Kingston Kids Classic set for Saturday
Sunny skies, temperatures in upper 50s forecast for entrants Saturday
The Kingston Kids Classic fun run returns Saturday with distances ranging from 50 meters to one mile for youngsters in pre-K through sixth grade.
So far, approximately 200 people have preregistered, which is consistent with recent years, according to YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County Controller Eleni Dedovich, who is helping to organize the race.
“We find a lot of people wait to race day and see what’s going on with the weather,” Dedovich said.
Dedovich added that she feels optimistic about this year’s forecast, which is calling for a high temperature in the upper 50s and sunny skies.
“That’s the perfect weather for our event,” Dedovich said.
Check in for the first race begins at 7:30 a.m., and the event kicks off with the Y26.2 final mile at 8 a.m.
Dedovich admitted that, in the past four or five years, the race, which is part of a nationwide YMCA Healthy Kids Day initiative, has faced stiff competition from a number of other things go-
ing on the same day.
“First communions, baseball games. People are very busy these days,” Dedovich said.
She also said they’re trying to grow participation by getting the word out to as many people as possible, with a heavy emphasis on social media and adding online registration. It’s a task that’s been tougher since schools have gone paperless, she added.
Dedovich said she’s glad the Kingston Classic, which features the traditional 10K
along with a one-mile fun run on a new course in the Rondout Area on Sunday, is back on the same weekend.
“It’s nice to have it be a Classic weekend across the board,” Dedovich said. “The kids can run one on one day, and then do the fun run with their family the other.”
Dedovich added she has a strong relationship with the Kiwanis Club of Kingston, which took over full sponsorship of the Kingston Classic this year after a three-year partnership with HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) ended in 2016.
The Kiwanis Club provides a medal to each child who crosses the line, she
added.
Each youngster also gets a race pack with healthy snacks and commemorative race bib, according to Dedovich.
Dedovich also encouraged families to check out the city of Kingston’s Earth Day programming that will be going on at Forsyth Park.
Race day registration is $10 per child. Runners should plan on arriving 30 minutes before their race. For more information, call (845) 338-3810, ext. 107
Proceeds from the Kids Classic go toward offering free or reduced entry fees for youngsters in the YMCA’s Strong Kids Scholarship program, which includes swim lessons, camp sessions and after- school programs. Race Schedule Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Y26.2 Final Mile at 8 a.m. Pre-K Boys and girls 50-meter, 12:15 p.m. Kindergarten Boys and girls 50-meter, noon. First Grade Boys and girls 100 meter, 11:45 a.m. Second grade Girls 200-meter, 8:30 a.m. Boys 200-meter, 8:45 a.m. Third grade Boys and girls mile, 9 a.m. Birls 400-meter, 9:30 a.m. Boys 400-meter, 9:45 a.m. Fourth Grade Boys and girls mile, 10 a.m. Girls 400-meter, 10:30 a.m. Boys 400-meter, 10:45 a.m. Fifth and Sixth grade Boys and Girls mile, 11 a.m. Girls 400-meter, 11:15 a.m. Boys 400-meter, 11:30 a.m.