Chicago runner wins Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise 10-miler, race weekend ends

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — A Chicago man won his first runDisney event this weekend.

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Nolan McKenna raced to the finish line at the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-miler on Sunday at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The race weekend shows different Pixar characters, with the Disney Pixar Cars 5K on Friday, the Disney Pixar Monsters 10K on Saturday and the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler on Sunday.

Read: ‘I feel alive’ Tampa Veteran overcomes spinal injury to race to the finish line at Walt Disney World

McKenna’s time was 54 minutes and 49 seconds. Nathan O’Conner, of Indiana, finished second place and Mike Williams, of Pennsylvania, placed third.

“This is a great stepping stone (race),” McKenna said. “This plays perfectly into my training and everything, so I’m very happy with it.”

Photos: Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise race weekend ends

Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise comes to an end Emotions run high as runners cross the finish line of the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 16, 2023, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year the event celebrated the magic of Disney Pixar characters and is the final on-site race weekend of the 2022-23 runDisney race season. (Kent Phillips, photographer) (Kent Phillips/Kent Phillips, photographer)

Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise comes to an end Nolan McKenna of the Chicago area is crowned the overall winner of the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 16, 2023, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The runner crossed the finish line with a time of 54:49 to close out the final on-site race weekend of the 2022-23 runDisney race season. (Kent Phillips, photographer) (Kent Phillips/Kent Phillips, photographer)

Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise comes to an end Emily Wolfarth triumphantly crosses the finish line to win the women’s division of the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler, clocking in at 1:05:37 on April 16, 2023, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Hailing from the Pittsburgh area, Wolfarth joined Disney fans and runners to take part in the four-day race weekend, which featured nods to favorite Disney Pixar characters and stories. (Kent Phillips, photographer) (Kent Phillips/Kent Phillips, photographer)

Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise comes to an end Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse pose near the finish line as they await the first finishers of the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 16, 2023, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kent Phillips, photographer) (Kent Phillips/Kent Phillips, photographer)

Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise comes to an end Nathalia Paradise of Tampa defied the odds when she completed the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 16, 2023, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Army veteran recently suffered a severe spinal injury but overcame those difficulties by using a walker to successfully finish the final on-site race of the 2022-23 runDisney race season. (Kent Phillips, photographer) (Kent Phillips/Kent Phillips, photographer)

Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise comes to an end Overall Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler winner Nolan McKenna of the Chicago area poses alongside female winner Emily Wolfarth from the Pittsburgh area following their victorious runs during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 16, 2023, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year the event celebrated the magic of Disney Pixar characters and is the final race weekend of the 2022-23 runDisney race season. (Kent Phillips, photographer) (Kent Phillips/Kent Phillips, photographer)

Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise comes to an end Runners take their mark as they begin the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler, the final event during the four-day runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend on April 16, 2023, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event celebrated the magic of Disney Pixar characters and is the final on-site race weekend of the 2022-23 runDisney race season. (Kent Phillips, photographer) (Kent Phillips/Kent Phillips, photographer)

Emily Wolfarth, a new mom, was the first woman to cross the finish line and finished at 1 hour, 5 minutes and 37 seconds. She said the journey was just as good as the win.

“Goosebumps,” Wolfarth said. “I believe in myself so much more now that I hit my goal that I wanted to hit.”

In the wheelchair division, Julius McManus from Florida won the men’s division, and Sidney Knox from Maine won the women’s division.

Read: Runners lace up for Walt Disney World Springtime Surprise Weekend

The Springtime Surprise is the fourth and final onsite runDisney race weekend in the 2022-2023 season.

Runners interested in signing up for the runDisney Summer Virtual Series can start registering on April 25.

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