MISSION

2024 Initiatives Achieved:

* produced (4) 2024 Summer Track Events for hundreds of runners *

* Fall Workshop by Strength Coach Paul Wilson for local athletes *

* Wright Brothers 1500M and 3000M produced November 2024 *

* Sponsored FFHS XC Team @ Great American XC Festival in Cary 10/5/24 *

Directors:

* runners * coaches * parents * athletes * organizers * doers *

Gray Berryman, President: Gray and his wife Ali have four children and live in Southern Shores. He is an accomplished broker with Carolina Designs Realty. He has served in many leadership roles in the real estate profession and with Kitty Hawk scout troops 117 and 5117. He is a passionate distance runner and is a coach for cross country and track at First Flight High School.

Dan Murray, Vice President: Dan Murray served as the head coach of cross country and track and field at First Flight High School for three years where he coached distance runners to five individual state championships. He is currently the Program Director for the Webb School of Knoxville. In his first year there, the Webb women’s team won the state individual and team state championships and ranked 17th nationally. Dan splits his time between Knoxville and the Outer Banks where his wife Rhonda works in physical therapy at the Outer Banks Hospital.

Lori Haynes, Treasurer: Lori is a Senior Accountant from Kitty Hawk who has been running on the Outer Banks since participating in Cross Country and Track as a student at Manteo High School. She has spent time working with Outer Banks Sporting Events, The Outer Banks Running Club and Go Far to encourage the healthy lifestyle and socialization that running can provide for the community. Lori is married with two kids and enjoys sharing her love of running with her whole family.

Amy Denson, Secretary: Amy Denson is a Youth & Young Adult Pastor and also serves as the First Flight Middle School Head Track Coach and the First Flight High School Assistant Cross Country Coach. She is passionate about developing students who grow into their full potential as athletes, leaders, and whole human beings. Coaching in Dare County for eighteen years, her First Flight Middle School teams have earned regular conference championships and have sent multiple students to national level competitions. The high school cross country team has won conference and regional championships along with consistently competing at a high level state-wide. Amy enjoys the freedom of running outside during all seasons. Her husband, Jason, serves as the Field Event Coach at FFMS. Her two children have grown up attending track practice and looking up to First Flight runners.

Brooke Erickson, Director: Brooke is a seasoned real estate appraiser and owner of her family appraisal firm. She is an Outer Banks native and ran for Manteo High School Track and Cross County for all 4 years. She has been a committed runner since. She has groomed her two middle school age boys into the sport and is excited to see where it takes them. Prior to being on the First Flight Track Club Board, she was on the Couture by The Shore board for 8 years.  

George Zafiris, Director: George has worked in Pharmaceutical Research for 25 years. He currently sits on 3 boards of small research companies contributing to developing new therapies. He is a father of 2, a runner and passionate about wellness. George has run 11 marathons and now enjoys using his running experience to be a pacer and help others reach their marathon target goal times.

Jeffrey Scott, Director: Jeff has served as the President of the Outer Banks Association of Realtors and the OBX Storm Soccer Club. He also has chaired other local organizations including the Administrative Council at Duck Church and the Leadership Board for the Outer Banks Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also currently serves on the Dare County Board of Equalization and Review . He’s been a Realtor on the Outer Banks since 1989 and owns Scott Team Realty in Southern Shores. When not serving his clients or the public in various charity organizations, Jeff enjoys running on trails in Nags Head and Kitty Hawk woods. He resides in Kitty Hawk with his wife Lori-Jo.