Lisa Hart claims her second straight runDisney women’s title; Texas runner gets overall win in his first runDisney race; Miss USA makes poetic trip down memory lane; Half marathon race completes Princess-focused race weekend
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2025) – To say that moving closer to Walt Disney World Resort has been good for Lisa Hart’s running career would be a huge understatement. Since leaving Connecticut last year to live within a few miles of The Most Magical Place on Earth, Hart has run in two runDisney races and won them both, including Sunday’s Disney Princess Half Marathon presented by CORKCICLE.
Hart, who won the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon last fall, narrowly won the women’s division Sunday morning, battling Brittany Truitt of Austin, Texas and the field of nearly 11,000 runners through Magic Kingdom and then through the final mile at EPCOT. Hart finished in 1:19:21, about a minute ahead of Truitt at 1:20:33. Maria Andrea Abularac of Guatemala was third in 1:23:27.
“I love the atmosphere here,’’ Hart said of the race that celebrates Disney princess-like qualities such as courage, kindness and perseverance. “I think even though it’s a really, really early start, when you go through the Magic Kingdom, that tunnel of sound is amazing.’’
Needless to say, after winning her second straight race at Walt Disney World, Hart will be back for more. “Yes, I will definitely be coming back for another runDisney race in the future,’’ she said.
It was a magical day for Alma Cooper, too. The reigning Miss USA finished among the leaders in her first trip to Walt Disney World since she was a little kid.
“It felt euphoric. I mean, the last time I was here, I was eight years old, so to be back here at (age) 22, is so, so special,’’ said Cooper who covered the 13.1-mile course in
1:40:03. “I almost feel like I appreciate it a little more (now) because you recognize all of the magic that goes into making such an incredible event like this and so many people. I mean, I was just floored by all of the stories of people sharing how many times they have run (here).’’
After experiencing her first-ever runDisney race with its flood of entertainment, Disney character meet & greets and cheering fans, Cooper was hooked.
“I believe in everything runDisney celebrates,’’ said Cooper, who is currently a US Army intelligence officer and a Stanford University graduate student. “I mean, there’s so many people of all experience levels, all walks of life coming to celebrate running, community, health, fitness. I think it’s so beautiful. I love it!’’
Likewise, Jorge Cruz Orduna had a fairytale day. After running a 26.2-mile marathon the weekend before, he made the trip to Walt Disney World from Buda, Texas and won the overall race in 1:15:07. He barely edged William Hataway of Orlando, Florida (1:15:10) and Mike Fussner of St. Louis, Missouri (1:17:18), who was the overall winner a year ago.
Linden Williamson of Seguin, Texas (59:03), who finished second in the wheelchair division last year, won it Sunday followed by Heather Sealover of Bossier City, Louisiana (1:04:28), who beat out Williamson a year ago. Danielle Nobile of Celebration, Florida was third. Nicholas McCoy of Boerne, Texas (1:13:12) won the men’s wheelchair division.
Sunday’s half marathon capped the three-race weekend that included a 5K and a 10K, plus the Disney Fairytale Challenge (10K and the half marathon). The race weekend ends Monday with a yoga event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Next up is the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend (April 3-6), the fourth and final race weekend of the runDisney race season at Walt Disney World. For more information on runDisney races, visit www.rundisney.com. For news releases, photos and video of runDisney races, visit www.disneyconnect.com.
