Run for Women 5K: 2026 Wrap‑Up

Published on by Behrend Blog

By Heather Cass, Publications Manager at Penn State Behrend and Run for Women 5K race director

Run for Women 2026 5K winners lead the pack. Landon White, on the left, and Corinne Petrus, right foreground.

Penn State Behrend’s fifth annual Women’s Engagement Council Run for Women 5K run/walk is officially in the books—and it was our biggest year yet. More than 200 people registered and 193 crossed the finish line, marking steady growth and another strong showing from the community.

We also lucked out with great weather again! We managed to finish the race and get everything packed up and put away before the raindrops arrived. #thankful

This year’s temporary course gave us a fun finish coming into AMIC from the back, but the tight quarter‑mile turn with a still‑packed field was tough. The good news: we’ll return to the traditional course next year once we regain access to the student section of the parking garage.

Race Highlights & Winners

Women’s Overall Winners

  1. Corinne Petrus, 47, Erie — 22:21.93 (7:13 pace)
  2. Abigail Frederick, 21, Clarion — 22:46.58 (7:21 pace)
  3. Caroline Van Matre, 31, Edinboro — 22:50.75 (7:22 pace)

Top Master Woman: Jennie Hagerty, 61 — 23:35.43 (7:37 pace)

Men’s Overall Winners

  1. Landon White, 15, Albion — 19:21.53 (6:15 pace)
  2. Mahesh Lakshminarayanan, 21, Pittsburgh — 21:46.92 (7:02 pace)
  3. Wesley Paris, 20, Erie — 23:22.96 (7:33 pace)

Top Master Men: Josh Paris, 51, Erie — 23:22.96 (7:33 pace)

Youngest Participant: Emerson Eaton, 6, McKean — 27:04.74

Oldest Participant: Mac Mackenzie, 83, Southington, OH — 42:34

Results & Photos

Complete results — including finish‑line video — are available at: https://bigwhitetrailer.com/run-for-women-results-2026/

Photos will be posted on the race’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RunForWomen5KatPSB but can also be accessed here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1mgwWenW8ccc5Ctv5

Run for Women 2027

And yes, you can already mark your calendar: Next year’s tentative race date is 8/29/27.

Thank Yous

There are a lot of people who make this event happen, so here’s the rapid‑fire gratitude section:

  • Thank you to DJ Kaitlyn Claus of Behrend’s BVZ Radio for keeping the energy high.
  • Thank you to the Penn State Behrend Cheer & Dance team, the Cross-Country team, Police and Safety, East County EMS, and our lead/sweep bikers Teresa and Greg Wigham for keeping runners safe — and hyped — on the course.
  • Thank you to the Women’s Engagement Council volunteers who handled everything from packet pickup to the mid-course water stop to setup to scooping ice cream and putting out (and picking up) signs.
  • Thank you to Penn State Behrend Athletics for sponsoring the post‑race Berkey Creamery ice cream. Every race should end with ice cream.
  • Thank you to Owen Hitt in the Lilley Library Maker Space for 3‑D printing all of our awards. If you still need to pick yours up, email hjc13@psu.edu.

A Few Final Notes

Did you take photos? We’d love to see them! Send them to hjc13@psu.edu or add them to our Google album.

Have suggestions for next year? Same email — hjc13@psu.edu.

Want a shirt (or another shirt)? We have Large and XL available for $10. Message (you guessed it) hjc13@psu.edu.

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