Despite the exertion needed, there were lots of smiles at the annual Kiwanis Club of Newburgh 4-mile race at Chadwick Lake Park in Newburgh on October 26.

There were 118 finishers, Race Coordinator Lauren Yunker said, and great support from the region.

“We had the Newburgh Free Academy cheerleaders and Cornwall Central High School dance teams cheering on the racers at the start and the finish lines, she said, and the CCHS Love Notes a capella group sang God bless America to start the day - they were fantastic! Also, on hand for moral support and entertainment were Sky Walker and K104,” she said. “We had tons of raffles and vendor tables from Walden Savings Bank, KeyBank, Molina, Affinity, R&B Pilates in Cornwall, and Lenox Hill Radiology, and food donated from Ace Endico, Downtown Bagels in Newburgh, Dunkin of Newburgh, T M. Deli in Washingtonville and Adam’s Farms Newburgh.”

The race was held on a mostly flat, wide gravel trail and participants could enjoy the lake’s brilliant fall foliage as they ran and walked.

Overall winner was Kiernan Judson, 17 of New Windsor, with a time of 22:55. In second place was Yufeng Guo, 37, of Goshen with a time of 22:58, and in third was West Point’s William Spicer, 39, with a time of 24:16. First female finisher was Michele Best-Hall of Wallkill, with a time of 30:38.

Recognition and award ceremonies took place after, for the top male and female runners overall and within age categories.

The money raised supports the Kiwanis goals and raises awareness of its mission, namely scholarships for educational and other enrichment programs for children of the community.