- April 19, 2024
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Shelley the turtle with Jamie Jalwan and her hatchling Connor.
Shelley the turtle with her actual hatchling Connor Jalwan.
Ten-week old hatchling Connor with his mother Jamie Jalwan. She is a former Mote employee and bought the costume before Connor was born with this event in mind. Jalwan also bought a costume the next size up for him to don next year.
Runners at the start of the 5K.
Participants line up for the 30th annual Mote Run for the Turtles 5K.
Participants take off after the start of the 30th annual Mote Run for the Turtles on Siesta Key Beach.
Denise Sanders and Carson Searer ran side by side during the one-mile fun run/walk.
Gilly the shark and Shelley the turtle greet participants as they cross the finish line.
Jenah Victor give Gilly the shark a high-five as she crosses the finish line for the one-mile fun run/walk.
Runners make their way down the shore for the 30th annual Mote Run for the Turtles on Siesta Key Beach.
Caroline, William, Denise and Andrew Pope from Team Pope.
Danielle Bret, Ella Christiensen, Joeline Goldstein, Nathanael, Jenah and Jeremiah Victor with Jeremy Goldstein and Paxtyn Ferdelman.
Dean Cutshall with 2nd overall finisher Chris Kaufman and his father Dan Kaufman.
Logan and Paul Amundson cross the finish line together and greet Gilly the shark.
Mike and Chris Hatsios following the one-mile fun run/walk.
First Overall winner of the 5K Richmond Stoltzfus.
In 1986 Dean Cutshall signed up for the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Run for the Turtles 5K on a whim.
He arrived at Siesta Key Beach for his regular morning run along the shore, when he noticed the race and signed up just before the start.
“I gained an interest in turtles,” Cutshall said. “I thought it was a great experience for me and a way to learn about marine life and turtles. It promotes not only awareness for the turtles but also love for the turtles.”
Cutshall has run for the turtles ever since. Saturday morning Cutshall wore the bib number 30 to commemorate the anniversary when he joined more than 1,000 runners at the starting line.
The Run for the Turtles included a 5K and 1-mile Fun Run to help bring awareness to sea turtle nesting season along the Sarasota County shoreline. Mote Senior Biologist Kristen Mazzarella hoped that runners noticed along the route just how many obstacles a turtle will encounter when they come ashore to nest.
“This is about bringing awareness about sea turtles in general, to protect them and to be aware that they nest on our beaches and to teach people how they can help,” Mazzarella said. “They can shut off their lights, knock down their sandcastles, fill in their holes and take their stuff off the beach…to have them free of obstacles that the turtles might encounter on their way up to nest at night.”
