Runners, walkers pack runway at Naples Airport for 5K, 10K races

NAPLES, Fla. - EntSun -- More than 500 runners, walkers and aviation enthusiasts packed Runway 32 for the third annual Naples Airport Runway 5K and first-ever 10K race, which raised money to provide scholarships for local runners and future aviators.

Held Nov. 1, this year's chip-timed race featured separate 5K and 10K events. All participants received specially designed T-shirts and custom aircraft race medals, and Gulf Coast Runners presented dozens of awards to the top overall and age-group finishers.

In the 5K race, Estuardo Gudiel Palacios Villatoro, 36, of Naples, was the top male finisher with a time of 18 minutes, 31 seconds. Estero's Sue Pelican, 55, was the top female finisher with a time of 21 minutes, 49 seconds.

In the 10K race, Alex Hinebaugh, 35, of Fort Myers, was the top male runner with a time of 39 minutes, 15 seconds. The top female runner was Kaitlyn Minchella, 33, of Naples, with a time of 41 minutes, 7 seconds.

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Participants lined up at sunrise between Naples Airport's fuel farm and aircraft hangers before zigzagging around private jets, small planes and emergency vehicles positioned around the perimeter road, tarmac, taxiway and Runway 32. The airport's Runway 5, which runs southwest to northeast, was still active during the race, giving runners a unique vantage point as departing jets left the airfield while the sun rose beyond the horizon. The FAA approved the Naples Airport Authority's request to host a race for the third consecutive year.

"We have to maintain the security of the airport, but this provides a great opportunity to do something that people might not otherwise get a chance to do – out on the runway, next to the parked aircraft, with the other runway open on an active, working airport," said Chris Rozansky, executive director for the Naples Airport Authority. "It's just a lot of fun for everybody."

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"For years, people talked about being able to do a 5K or 10K race on an open runway, and we had it come to fruition a few years ago with the Naples Airport Authority," added Mitch Norgart, president of Gulf Coast Runners. "People love this race. It's a novelty to be able to run on a straight, milelong runway, and I think we'll keep going with this one."

Race proceeds are split between Gulf Coast Runners, a nonprofit that provides teen runners with college and trade school scholarships, and the Experimental Aircraft Association, a nonprofit that offers scholarships to aspiring pilots, aircraft mechanics and engineers.

The complete list of Naples Airport 5K and 10K winners and race times is available at RunSignup.com/Race/FL/Naples/NaplesRunway5K.