Olympic hopeful shows mettle in triumph
After Brittany Charboneau won the Kansas City Marathon in October, she hardly felt overjoyed. She was waiting to exhale. “I had put so much pressure on myself to win and to set a certain time, and I really didn’t enjoy it,’’ Charboneau said. “I kind of fell apart, so my goal today was to go out and do the exact opposite.’’
Charboneau, 29, was more relaxed but still victorious.
She claimed the top spot among women’s finishers at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on Saturday, running 13.1 miles in 1 hour, 17 minutes, 37 seconds. Joao Marcelo Avelar of São Paulo, Brazil, placed first overall among the 20,801 finishers in 1:08:28.
The Walt Disney Marathon Weekend will conclude today with the 25th annual marathon, beginning at 5:30 a.m. at Epcot.
“During the race, there were people [on the course]: ‘Go, go, go, go, go,’ ’’ Avelar said. “[It was] motivation and good for the head. I am very happy.’’
Charboneau was pleased, too. Who wouldn’t be after setting a personal best? But it is more than that. With an eye on making the 2020 U.S. Olympic team, the Denver native is peaking.
With temperatures in the high 30s, Charboneau thrived in the Disney World Half. She said she never had won a race of any length until crossing first in a half marathon in Chicago in 2015. Now look at her. “It snowballed from there,’’ Charboneau said. “It’s just been that confidence booster of, ‘Oh, my gosh, I can do this.’ I started to surprise myself.’’
A former runner at Colorado State, Charboneau quit her job in the marketing department of her sponsor to devote more time to running and pursuing a career as an actor and comedian. “I was on top of my mental game today,’’ Charboneau said.
Kim Pawelek-Brantly of Jacksonville came in second in 1:25:57. Valery Perry of Oviedo finished third in 1:26:33.
As for Avelar, the victory was his second in two days. He prevailed in the Disney World 10K on Friday in 31:56.
Avelar, 33, is entered in today’s marathon.
“It was cold, but I finished in a good time,’’ Avelar said. “So tired, so tired but good.’’
Nicholas Bowerman of Dubuque, Iowa, was second in 1:12:28.