Correction: Mad Dash officials said some of the participants went off course; at least one of the top ten listed finishers was among them. The 11th-place finisher, who would have been in the top ten, has been added below.

Fitness enthusiasts of a varying ages and abilities made their way through a variety of challenging obstacles — arriving at the finish line muddy, soaked, worn out, and with reason to be proud — at the fourth annual Mad Dash Adventure Race, at Fairfield Hills, on June 13.

The Newtown Parks and Recreation Department and NYA Sports & Fitness Center hosted the event, and proceeds will benefit scholarship programs run by both the Parks & Rec department and NYA. The Mad Dash featured an Advanced course, three Beginner/Family heats, and a Mini Dash for young children.

Sandy Hook resident Riley Rising, 16, was first to finish the Advanced race; Rising completed the grueling 5K course with a twist in a time of 38:40. Sandy Hook’s Joey Conrod, 15, and Newtown’s Joel Duval, also 15, both finished in 39:25. Conrod edged Duval for runner-up honors. The top female was Newtown’s Melissa Singlak, 38, who  came in 24th overall, with a time of 47:23.

Participants stutter-stepped through rows of tires, hurdled bales of hay, made their way across balance beams as firefighters hosed them off – in more ways than one, sometimes causing the athletes to lose their footing. They climbed walls, engaged in a fitness challenge, and crawled through the mud.

After carrying heavy rocks up a long hill, competitors made their way across suspended ladders — monkey bar-style. After climbing a large dirt hill and making their way down the back side, they climbed a wall, jumped down, and raced toward the finish.

Trumbull’s John Sakowich, 35, placed fourth in 42:14; Newtown’s Dylan Bartlett, 15, was fifth in 43:29; and Newtown/Sandy Hook participants claimed spots six through 27. Luke Albrecht, 36, was sixth in 43:40; Nathaniel Jones, 15, was seventh in 44:23; Dylan Lew, 15, placed eighth in 44:30; Ed Lovely, 15, was ninth in a time of 44:33; and Colby Fowler, 14, was tenth in 45:29, and Jim O'Brien, 32, placed 11th in 45:42.

For more coverage of the Mad Dash, including reaction from participants, check out the June 19, 2015 print edition of The Newtown Bee. Results, provided by Plattsys Timing, will be posted on nyasportsfitness.com.