Saturday, November 14, 2026
U.S. Air Force pilot Jason Ward, a former runner of Coach Mark McGarity’s, talks with the coach’s wife, Lisa McGarity, after the race. Ward graduated from the Air Force Academy and was deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mother daughter team, Mary and Gina Pardi, were the first and third female finishers, respectively. The ladies are from Maine but spend several weeks on the island during the winter.
Jessica Langebeeke, Lely cross country coach, plants a sign in honor of Mark McGarity during the Coach McGarity Five Mile Hill Run.
Darina Cammarato and Jami Maxwell descend the final hill of the day.
Scott Mitchell imparts some race wisdom to nine-year-old R. Stevens.
Joshua Wagner, male overall winner, sprints up Indian Hill. Wagner, who won the race by over two minutes, ran for Coach Mark McGarity in high school.
Runners tackle the first hill of the morning.
Kevin Brachle climbs Indian Hill while his daughter enjoys a big yawn.
Todd Borden, who was mentored by Coach Mark McGarity as a runner and as a coach, found the 63-degree temperatures a bit chilly.
The temperature was a nippy - by Marco Island standards - 63 degrees as 279 runners tackled the hills of Marco Island Saturday morning in the Coach McGarity Five Mile Hill Run.
The race honors the memory of legendary Lely High School track and cross country coach Mark McGarity, who passed away in 2021. Many of his former runners were in attendance.
“It was cold for me,” said Lisa McGarity, wife of Mark McGarity, "because I was just standing there at the top of Indian Hill. I think it was really perfect weather for the runners.”
Lisa McGarity estimated that at least 20 of her husband’s former runners were in attendance.
"Josh Wagner,” Lisa McGarity said, "the first-place finisher, was one of Mark’s runners. Some kids that ran for other high schools come and remember Mark as the coach in town, were here. They all know who I am and greet me because of Mark.”
The top female finisher was Mary Pardi of Maine, who covered the five-mile course in 32:12. Her daughter Gina was the third female finisher with a time of 35:35.
Joshua Wagner flew through the hills, finishing at 25:26, outdistancing the field by a full two minutes. Second place went to Nick Kamen (27:28) and Brian Viera (28:23) finished third.
Formally known as the Marco Hill Run, the longtime event’s name was changed last year to honor McGarity, the beloved track and cross country coach.
“It was tough last year at five months,” Lisa McGarity said. "But it’s been 17 months and I cannot be more proud. The foundation is coming along well. I’ve been able to give out $4,000 in scholarships to students at Lely and Immokalee High Schools - the two schools where Mark taught.”
Lisa McGarity will be staging a fundraising event in March.
"We’re having a fundraiser on March 4th for his foundation right here on Marco at the Marco Brewery,” she said. "The owner of the brewery is a former runner of Mark’s. He’s so kind to offer his establishment for a fundraising event. That’s my goal, to keep the spirit of running in the community. And to reward those kids with scholarships in Mark’s name."
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