Behling & Pechous win Pumpkin Run

NSO NEWS RELEASE

SCOTT BEHLING AND KELLY PECHOUS WIN AT PUMPKIN RUN

CLOQUET, MN—

Participants in the 14th annual Pumpkin Run & Walk at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College were greeted with perfect weather conditions for the five-kilometer race and festive event this morning in Cloquet. The temperature at 10:00 a.m. was 52 degrees with no wind and overcast sky conditions.

The field included 201 registered runners and walkers who participated in the oldest Halloween-themed race in northern Minnesota. Held on Saturday, October 19, the race featured first-time winners in the overall men’s division and in the overall women’s division, plus two age-group records were broken.

Overall winner Scott Behling of Duluth led everyone to the finish line in a time of 15:49 for his first Pumpkin Run title. Behling finished second overall in 2018. Dave Hyopponen of Duluth finished second in 16:47 and Evan Walpole of Superior was third in 17:00. The 29-year old Behling set an age group record in the 20-29 category, improving on the same mark he set in 2018.

Once again, a first-time Pumpkin Run Champion was crowned in the women’s overall division with Kelly Pechous of Duluth crossing the finish line in 20:34 for the win, placing her seventh overall. Second place went to Leah Hammond of Cloquet in 22:18, followed by Alisha Bradley of Duluth in 24:04 for third place. Sara Cherne of Duluth set a record in the women’s 70 and over age group with a time of 29:30. Cherne also holds the Pumpkin Run age group record in the 60-69 bracket, established in 2016.

The Pumpkin Run course is certified by US Track and Field and the results count for points in the annual Minnesota Runner of the Year standings.