- March 1, 2026
Best dressed team: Realty Executives' Running on Island Time, Bruce Vinnick, Shannon Vinnick, Candy Doyle, Sarah Guzman, Nikko V. and Kallen V. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Race of the Runways winner Bryant Cordova, right, with his sister, Nellie Cordova. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Female winner Avery Wisniewski, 14, of Palm Coast, with her prize package. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Rachel Rumsey, Sue Finn, Amy Hates and Michelle Sellers. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Erynn Dillman, Victoria Brown, Kaleigh Futch, Jeremiah Smith and Heather Smith. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
The plane by the start/finish line was the model for the runners' finisher medals. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Gilyan Wagner, Emma Gagliardo, Lila Wiltfong and Lucy Kales. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Tarrah Hardman, Kenny Hardman, Brad Carman and Audra Bowsky. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Kaitlin Hall, Tim Allala and Cassie Winters-Smith. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Team Red, White & Blue Veterans Group: Mary McLendon, Mary Synk, Kathleen Collings, Marcelle Matthews, Doreen McGovern, Marge McGovern, Teresa Lister and Tatiana and Christian Aracena. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Sign for Race of the Runways. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Runners prepare for the start of the race by stretching, getting their watches ready to time themselves and securing their bib numbers. Photo by Brent Woronoff
A helicopter with a searchlight circled the runways. Photo by Brent Woronoff
For Denise Cavalli and her family, the Race of the Runways has become a family reunion. Cavalli, 64, of Orlando, placed second in her age group on Saturday, Feb. 28, in the 16th annual 5K race at Flagler Executive Airport in Palm Coast.
“My brothers run here every year,” she said. “My older brother, Mike Taylor, who is a year older, lives in Flagler Beach. My younger brother lives in St. Augustine. My nephew ran this year, my youngest son ran. We had a few walkers, a 7-year-old. What a great concept this race is. We want to make it a family tradition.”
A record 649 runners and walkers participated in this year's Race of the Runways, which is hosted by the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach. The race is unique with the entire 5K course run on the airport’s runways. The event, which also includes a kiddie dash, begins shortly before sunset. Runners wear glow-in-the-dark gear. Runway lights guide them. A helicopter with a searchlight flies overhead. The post-race party, inside and outside of a hangar, is just that — a party with dancing, food and beverages.
Race winner, Bryant Cordova, flew in from his home in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to stay with his cousin in Daytona Beach and run in the race. His cousin also ran. His sister, Nellie, came in from Tampa to watch them.
It’s 32 degrees in New Jersey right now, and it’s real hilly where I live. This is amazing. It’s an airport and there’s a helicopter flying over you. You don’t get this experience a lot.
— BRYANT CORDOVA, race winner who lives in Elizabeth, New Jersey
“It’s 32 degrees in New Jersey right now, and it’s real hilly where I live,” Cordova said. “This is amazing. It’s an airport and there’s a helicopter flying over you. You don’t get this experience a lot.”
Cordova, 29, won with a time of 16 minutes, 51.45 seconds. He ran cross county and track at Seton Hall University. He still competes in middle distance events.
“You could say I’m semi-pro,” he said. “I don’t really do anything above a mile, but every now and them I can fit (a 5K) into my training.”
And the Daytona Beach area holds a special place in his heart, he said.
“I raced here at Embry-Riddle twice when I was in college,” he said. “There were some big races when I came down to Daytona. It’s fun racing here.”
Avery Wisniewski, 14, of Palm Coast was the female winner with a time of 20:05.67. Avery, who placed 13th overall, was one of 16 members of the Imagine School at Town Center middle school cross country and track club who ran in the race. Aspen Lester, 11, another member of the imagine School club team, finished second among females with a time of 20:29.92. With Avery winning the overall female award, Aspen won first place in the 10-14 female age group.
Avery said she knew she was running first among females.
“I had an idea [I’d win],” she said. “I looked back to make sure no one was catching up.”
Realty Executives Oceanside’s “Running on Island Time” team won the best-dressed team award.
Other members of the Imagine School club team who finished among the top 10 were Aidan Moylan, 13, with a time of 19:27.83 for sixth place and Korbin Purdy, 13, who was ninth in 19:36.27.
The rest of the top 10 included Brian Sharbono, 43, of Port Orange (second, 16:59.99); Joshua Brands, 28, of Palm Coast (third, 17:57.45); Erik Hansen, 38, of Ormond Beach (fourth, 18:13.31); Alex Mikhas, 21, of Flagler Beach (fifth, 18:15.12); Jan Vandermark, 40, of Orange City (seventh, 19:31.86); Vijay Weeden, 21, of Palm Coast (eighth, 19:35.25); and Aiden Sharbono, 14, of Port Orange (10th, 19:38.18).
Cavalli, who has been running since 1979 when she was a college student, finished the 3.1-mile distance in 28:40.55. She said she will be turning 65 soon, so next year she will be running in a different age group.
For complete results, including age group winners, go to runsignup.com/Race/Results/5866
