- April 10, 2025
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Michelle Lugo, 9, and Sebastian Kovendy await the start of the 5K.
Photo by Ian SwabyRoger Janczak, Hannah Chupp and Erik Wydner head for the finish line.
Photo by Ian SwabyJackson Mitchell, 16, nears the end of the race.
Photo by Ian SwabyCarey Beychok, Lorrie Muldowney, Jake Lasala, staff scientist and program manager with Mote, Sandy Moutoux and Tina Williams
Photo by Ian SwabyRacers begin the fun run.
Photo by Ian SwabyKeep Morse slaps hands with Mote's mascot Gilly.
Photo by Ian SwabyChris Olszewski makes his way toward the finish line.
Photo by Ian SwabyCarter Andrejkovics, 10, sits with Cayden Myers and Aster Myers, 18 after they finish the race.
Photo by Ian SwabyMote's mascot Gilly applauds racers.
Photo by Ian SwabyRicardo Gonzalez prepares to start the 5K.
Photo by Ian SwabyRacers prepare to begin the 5K. Front: Danny Withers, Noah Mahrenholz, 9, Sawyer Fleming, 11, and Phoenix Gomez, 12 and Jonah Kindred, 12
Photo by Ian SwabySebastian Kovendy, the overall winner, comes in for the finish line.
Photo by Ian SwabyHeather Butcher, the top overall female, finishes the race.
Photo by Ian SwabyRocco Baley, 12, speeds toward the finish line.
Photo by Ian SwabyEleanor Spalding, 3, watches the race course for her mother Christina Spalding, with her father Joshua Spalding and sister Maeve Spalding, 1.
Photo by Ian SwabyEzra Dominguez Hernandez, 8 comes in at the finish line.
Photo by Ian SwabyAfter 7-year-old Eve Barniskis reached the finish line on the beach sands, her mother Stephanie Barniskis, who ran with her, said she did “awesome" job.
“She didn’t like anyone passing her,” said Stephanie Barniskis.
Eve was just one of the many community members energized for the 39th annual Run for the Turtles, the main fundraiser for the Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, which was held April 5 on Siesta Beach.
Melissa Macksey, a senior biologist and data manager for the program, said the race is a "huge" component of spreading awareness about sea turtle conservation and raising funds for the program's activities including marking nests, tracking trends and collecting data.
The run kicks off the sea turtle nesting season, which runs from April 15 to October 31 in Southwest Florida, and the aquarium says the run attracts over 1,000 runners annually.
It includes a 1-mile fun run, as well as a 5K race sanctioned by Manasota Track Club.
“It’s a tradition,” said Cathi Skuba. She enjoys running that race, and the Sandy Claws Beach Run, each year with her grandson Jack Skuba, 3.
