IT was a moment of joy for young Karma Lewin as she crossed the line in first place for the women’s section of the Kiwanis Club of Providence Montego Bay breast cancer awareness 5K on Sunday morning.

The 13-year-old Mount Alvernia High School student led throughout most of the race and managed a respectable time of 21.47 to clinch the event.

She said she was happy with the result.

“I feel good because I worked for it,” she told the Jamaica Observer following the early morning event.

“I knew I could win because I came third in the race held last year,” she further stated.

She says she has been training, and that has paid off. She, however, acknowledged that the endeavour took some effort.

“I feel tired but I know I could do it,” she remarked about the run.

Nadine Spence, chairman of the organising committee for the run/walk/wheelchair event, said Lewin is the youngest winner in the history of the event.

“Yes, she is the youngest to ever do it and it was just phenomenal and it was just an awesome feeling. I mean, I had to double-check just to make sure what I saw and witnessed was correct,” she remarked about the situation.

Her coach at Mount Alvernia, Andrew Henry was also pleased by what he saw, explaining that the school only recently started a middle distance programme.

“She is only 13 so I am expecting good things from her. The time is respectable based on the fact that she just start in this programme. It’s a new event for her, a new programme, and so she did exceptionally well given that it is a new programme for her,” he assessed.

The men’s portion of the event went to Brandon Kerr of Team Impressive with a time of 17.11.

For president of the club Althea Allen- Keen, the overall event was a success as they had more participants coming out this year.

“I am very elated for such a successful event. I had actually set a target for 2000 and we have surpassed that,” she remarked on the turnout.

She says the increased participation is reflected in the funds raised, which came close to what was projected by the team.

“We have an estimate of over $6 million. My target was $8 million, and I believe when we go through everything we should be close because my maximum was $8 million and minimum $6 million so where I fall in-between, I am very satisfied,” she said.

Part of the support came through a massive donation of $2.55 million from the Montego Bay Chinese business community, who says they are looking forward to the coming years.

“I will still support as my intention is that I really want to get involved in the community and work to make change,” remarked Yangsen Li, manager of Hua Square, title sponsor for the event.