Racers take off at the start of the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Neil Johnson, 46, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, won first place in the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18, with a finish time of 21:51.8. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Ron Fairchild, 57, of Stambaugh, Kentucky, won second place in the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18, with a finish time of 22:21.0. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Christopher Jewel, 28, of Ironton, won third place in the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18, with a finish time of 23:02.7. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Ealynn Virgin, 9, of Kitts Hill, comes into the finish of the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. Virgin, who finished ninth overall, was also the top female runner in the event, coming in ahead of many adults. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Mark Gaffney, of Franklin Furnace, takes part in the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Racers take off at the start of the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Runners were handed water bottles as they came through the finish of the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Inga Brewster, of Orma, West Virginia, waves as she begins the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Children who took part in the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18 are handed medals after the race. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Jenny Murphy, of Ironton, comes up Center Street in the final stretch of the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Vicki Knipp and Jim Cremeans, both of Ironton, take part in the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Melissa Montgomery, of Argillite, Kentucky, makes the final turn past the former location of The Vault Market on Center Street during the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Kenny Baron, of Ironton, comes up Center Street in the final stretch of the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Greg Ervin, of Barboursville, West Virginia, comes up Park Avenue in the final stretch of the Ironton River Run on Sept. 18. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)