On Saturday, Nov. 5, costumed creatures once again gathered on the campus of Appalachian State University - and virtually - for the twelfth annual Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race and Costume Contest.
This year, 318 walkers and runners participated in-person and virtually, and 50 volunteers helped make the event a success. With sponsorships, donations and participation fees, the event raised over $16,000 in proceeds to benefit the work of App State’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country (FSN-HC), which assists regional families who have children with special needs. A $10,000 matching grants from Health Foundation Inc. raised the total to $26,433 - the most since the annual race began.
The runners are off to a strong start! Photo by Chase Reynolds.
The Halloween-themed fundraising and awareness-raising event is a USA Track & Field (USATF)-certified 5K and 10K race with a free costume march and contest in which children, adults and pets can all show off their costumes and share in the fun. Spooky Duke is named in honor of Dr. Charles R. Duke, event sponsor and former dean of App State’s Reich College of Education (RCOE).
Katie and Drew Lail and their bat dogs won the pet costume contest! Photo by Chase Reynolds.
App State’s Parent to Parent (FSN-HC), housed in the RCOE, provides free support and information to families who have a premature baby or a child with a disability, an emotional or behavioral challenge, a mental illness or a chronic health condition, and also assists families who are grieving the death of a child. The program serves Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties.
Race results
Top three finishers for the 5K. Photo by Chase Reynolds.
5K Top Finishers (men)
First place — Ryan Haskett; time 16:39.3.
Masters — Thomas Kreger; time 20:32.4.
5K Top Finishers (women)
First place — Jessica Howard; time 22:41.1.
Masters — Stacey Rex; time 26:27.1.
10K Top Finishers (men)
First place — Fulton Shober; time 36:45.5.
Masters — Ross Gosky; time 49:15.9.
10K Top Finishers (women)
First place — Laura McKenzie; time 49:40.5.
Masters — Becky Moretz; time 50:40.4.
View the complete Spooky Duke 2022 race results
Event sponsors
Hair Raiser ($1,000-plus contribution)
- Dr. Charles R. Duke, Dean Emeritus of the Reich College of Education
- Appalachian Police Department
- Health Foundation, Inc.
- Mast General Store
- Reich College of Education
- Ross Jeep Ram Dodge Chrysler
Fang-tastics ($600-plus contribution)
- American Eagle
- Animal Hospital of Boone
- Be Natural Market Round-Up
- Coe Realty
- Creekside Cabins
- High Gravity Adventures
- Kovu's Coffee
- Miller's Supply, Inc.
- New River Building Supply, Inc
- Rich Summit View Cabin Rental
- Skyline/Skybest
- Ultimate Sound DJ Company
Jack-o’-Lanterns ($300-plus contribution)
- Bayada Pediatrics
- Blue Ridge Energy
- Boone Chocolat
- Robert H. Bridgeman, DDS
- Carroll Leather Goods
- Crossnore Communities for Children
- Covenant Case Management Services
- Go Postal
- Graystone Eye
- Green Park Inn
- Modern Toyota of Boone
- RaysWeather.com
- Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church
- Scarecrow Farm
- Tweetsie Railroad
Skeletons ($150-plus contribution)
- 4 Forty Four
- Appalachian Ski Mountain
- Blowing Rock Art and History Museum
- Blue Ridge Vision
- The Beacon/Reid's Cafe
- Vera Bradley
Partners for 2022 Spooky Duke
Parent to Parent (FSN-HC) would like to thank the following groups and individuals who helped make the Spooky Duke race and silent auction a success.
App State and community organizations
- Appalachian Athletics
- Appalachian Bookstore
- Appalachian Educators Club
- Ashe County Cheese
- Bistro Roca
- Capone's Pizza
- China Wok
- Cupcrazed Cakery
- Food Lion
- GE Aviation
- Grandfather Mountain
- Great Clips
- Harris Teeter
- Ingles - Boone
- Ingles - West Jefferson
- Lowes Food
- Magic Bound Travel
- Mint Cuisine of India
- Monte D Rey
- Mystery Hill
- Patti Carmen Pottery, Inc
- Pepper's Restaurant & Bar
- Radiant Well-Being
- Rock Dimensions
- Sunrise Grill
- Tanger Outlets
- The Cardinal
- The Peddler Steakhouse
- Town of Boone
- Village Cafe
- Watauga County Rescue Squad
- Wilkesboro NC H.O.G. Chapter #2727
- Woodlands BBQ
Individuals
- Allie Funk
- Sali Gill-Johnson
- Trish Kerley
- Charles Lieberman
- Dean Melba Spooner
- The Spooky Duke planning committee
Race Teams
- Best Buddies App State
- Caleb’s Hobgoblins
- East Boone Run Club
- Joggers of Catan
- Kaaren’s Spooky Team
- Salem Sisters
- Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program
- The CDSA Roadrunners
- The Risketeers
- The Scaredy Crows
- The Wandering Pumpkins
- Walker Fellows
Spooky Duke Participants pose at the finish line
