KENT, Conn.—More than 350 runners and their supporters swarmed the area around the Kent Town Hall Sunday afternoon, Oct. 26, for the 49th annual Pumpkin Run sponsored by the Kent Chamber of Commerce.
The race kicked off at noon and 25 minutes and 55 seconds later William Sanders of Marlborough, Conn., was crowned the victor as he crossed the finish line well ahead of his closest competitor, Nick Conway, of Albany, N.Y., who came in with a time of 27:05.
The 38-year-old runner has won the race for the past three years but failed to top his previous times of 25:29 and 25:45.
The third-place male was Jason Ryf of Oshgosh, Wisc., with a finish time of 29:01. Haley Collins of Tolland, Conn., was the first female runner to finish with a time of 29:10.
Kent’s first runners over the finish line were close competitors. Jeanna Sondag came in at 32:48, with Steve Larson slightly over a minute later, at 33:53.
There was a festive air surrounding the race as the crowd gathered under clear blue skies with deejay George Potts providing the beat. Emcee Tim Smith kept up amusing banter, noting the number of pumpkin-clad contestants among the many runners in costume. “Pumpkins running in the 49th Pumpkin Run on National Pumpkin Day—isn’t that ‘re-run-dent,’” he quipped.
Some competitors pushed babies in carts and others ran with their canine companions, also dressed in costumes. Axel, a German shepherd from New Milford, is so enthusiastic about his bat dog costume, he gets the zoomies when his owner Loghan Bennett gets it out, his owner said.
Great having fun coverage of a fun community event. Thanks GTD.