NATCHEZ — Twelve-year old Colton Marks knew he had the race won as he came sprinting down Main Street Saturday morning in the 34th annual River City Run for the Kids 1-mile fun run.

Marks, who was competing in the race for the fourth time, said his strategy was to get out to a fast start and pace himself the rest of the race, and that strategy was successful as he finished with a time of 5:18, which was 23 seconds better than any other competitor.

“It feels awesome,” Marks said. “This is my second year in a row to come in first overall.”

Marks, who is from Gonzales, La., said his 5:18-time was the fastest mile he has ever run.

Fabeon Minor, 12, finished second to Marks and also ran his personal-fastest time of 5:41, he said.

Marks and Minor were just two of the dozens of children ages 12 and under who ran, walked or took a stroller ride in the fun run to raise money for the Junior Auxiliary of Natchez.

River City Run chairman Tiffiany Kyzar said the event went well Saturday morning and mother nature was on the runners’ side.

“Last year we had about the same amount of people (as this year),” Kyzar said. “We had great weather last year and have great weather again (this year).”

Kyzar said the River City Run for the Kids, which features a 10-K run, 5-K walk and 1-mile fun run, raises money for future events the Junior Auxiliary will host to benefit local children.

“Junior Auxiliary is a women’s organization that helps children in need,” she said. “Profits (from the run) will provide for events like our Easter egg hunt.”

Kyzar said approximately 300 participants registered for at least one of the three events Saturday morning.

Several adults, like Natchez-native Harold Poole, participated in one of the distance events and then accompanied a child on the fun run.

Poole accompanied his grandson, Truman Poole, on the fun run. Poole said his son Duane and daughter-in-law, Christie Barber, live in Jackson with Truman and the event is always special for him and his family.

“They live in Jackson, and it is nice to seem them and get to spend time with them,” Poole said. “It’s special.”

Poole said it is also nice to get runners from all over Mississippi and Louisiana to participate.

“It brings in runners from different towns and gives you a chance to meet different runners,” he said.

Truman, 5, said before the race that he likes running with his grandfather, and he thinks that Harold enjoys running with him too.

“He likes to keep up with me,” Truman said.

Barber not only accompanied her family on the trip to Natchez, she also brought members of her Belhaven University cross-country team to participate.

“I coach cross country at Belhaven, and I brought a few runners down,” she said. “Times are slow right now (for cross country), and it’s fun to come out to a race like this.”

Duane said Truman has been a participant in the River City Run since before he was able to walk.

“He’s been in a push stroller,” Duane said.

Vidalia-native Susan Gardner accompanied 8-year-old Rebecca Ratcliff on the fun run Saturday morning, and Gardner said the event provides an opportunity for children to have fun and exercise.

“I think it’s important for kids to get out and do something,” she said.

Jason McGehee brought his daughter Allie Grace, 5, out to participate in the event for the first time, and he said he and his daughter run around the neighborhood together but wanted to come to the event and run with the other children.

“We wanted to have something to do as a family,” Jason said.

In addition to the fun run, children were able to participate in face painting and play in the castle-shaped moonwalk while the adults ran their distance races.

Hattiesburg resident and Natchez-native Brian Gilbert participated in the 10-K event, and he said not only is the event fun for the family, but it is also important for Mississippi’s competitive runners.

“This is a Grand Prix race for the Mississippi Track Club, and (runners) get points.”

Sixteen-year-old Eclecius Franklin Jr. was the overall winner of the 10-K run with a final time of 35:46. Ryan Crandall, 18, finished second with a time of 37:44.

Amy Macon, 40, had the fastest time in the women’s group. She finished with a time of 45:53.

Natchez’s Ed Daly won the Master’s division with a time of 38:33.

Charlie Montague won the men’s overall 5-K walk with a time of 33:17, and 14-year-old Hannah Ruben won the women’s overall with a time of 32:54.