By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Swimmers must practice.

Swimming events in the 2016 Summer Olympics start Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. The athletes have been practicing for years.

The Hays Duck Derby is Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the Hays Aquatic Park. The ducks practiced Thursday evening.

Five-thousand yellow toy ducks will be participating in the inaugural Hays Duck Derby fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County  5:30-8:30 p.m.

Duck racers can adopt just one duck for $5, or incrementally adopt more ducks for more money, all the way up to an entire 25-duck colony for $100.

There will be two heats of 2,500 ducks per heat, launched into the HAP Lazy River. The top 500 ducks in each heat will compete in a Championship Race to determine the winning ducks for prizes.

Prizes will be awarded to the first 14 ducks crossing the finish line of the Championship Race.

Grand Prize is a bright red 2014 Ford Fiesta donated by James Motor Company, Hays Chevrolet, Auto World, Car Zone, Lewis Automotive Group of Hays, Happy’s Auto, Mid Kansas Auto Auction and Lang Diesel.

A separate Duck Dash 4 Kids will be held for children younger than 13. Their brightly colored ducks are available for $2 and will compete for kid-friendly prizes.

More family fun includes free swimming in the zero entry pool starting at 5 p.m. and a hot dog feed starting at 5:30 p.m. for $3 per person.  Quacktivities–kids games–include a hula hoop contest and duck waddle races.

Winners will be announced at the Duck Race Awards Ceremony following the Championship Race. Winners do not need to be present to win.