Johnson, Mortensen Blaze to Chilly Walt Disney World Half Marathon Victory

Michigan runners Chad Johnson and Emily Mortensen weathered near freezing temperatures Saturday to take home the men’s and women’s Walt Disney World Half Marathon division titles. Braving freezing rain and temperatures in the low-30s, Johnson won for the second time after streaking to the finish at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon presented by CIGNA in 2008. Johnson, 33, who trained for the Disney event by running at times in snowy conditions in Rochester Hills, Mich., battled fellow Hanson’s Brooks Distance Project Running Club member Sage Canaday for nearly 10 miles before pulling away and finishing at 1:07:02 – 18 seconds ahead of Canaday. Luis Rivera from Puerto Rico was third at 1:08:55.