By LISA MARCHESONI Senior Writer – Aug. 25, 2007 2 PM

Spectators wearing ducks painted on their faces watched gleefully as 5,000 bright yellow rubber ducks dumped into Stones River Saturday gracefully floated over the dam behind Sportsman’s Club on Medical Center Parkway.

Participants in the first Duck Derby adopted almost 4,000 ducks for $5 apiece with proceeds benefiting the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County. CAC provides services for sexually abused children and their families.

Ducks glided about 300 feet until stopped by a barrier boom. Some of the speedier ducks raced into a tube where Queen Quacker Kristin Demos, who was almost waist deep in the water, plucked the top 11 finishers who won prizes.

Joel Fortner’s adopted duck captured first place honors with a trip for two to Key West, Fla. Runner up was a duck adopted by Elizabeth Jennings who won a family trip to Walt Disney World.

Other prize winners were Pamela Neal, Dana Cox, Special Kids, Eleanor Teasley, Cynthia Kudavanti, Douglas Stephens, Barbara Huskey, Amber Teasner Newbaer and Stanford Murry.

To start the race, volunteers dumped crates of rubber ducks into the river.

Sponsor Andy Womack told the crowd Friday night’s rain helped the ducks float over the waterfall “or this race would have lasted a lot longer.”

Junior League members joined Jason and Holly Adreon in canoes and kayaks to coax ducks to the finish line. Chuck Farrer of Farrer Logistics and his brother, Mark Gorbett, provided equipment for the race while Hepaco provided the barrier to collect the ducks.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church’s youth group, Life Teen, and members of Delta Beta Sigma and Alpha Delta Kappa sororities gathered ducks after the race. Delta Beta Sigma members painted ducks on people’s faces.

Nick Williams and Ethan Conner of Life Teen rounded up wayward ducks.

“I think it’s a really good charity for the kids,” Williams said.

Demos, who is the CAC board’s fund-raising chair, was happy about the race.

“I am thrilled,” Demos said, thanking the Wing Team for their help and all volunteers. She expects next year’s race to be even better.

CAC Board Chair Sharon Sant Amour said it was “huge success beyond what I thought it would be.” Proceeds will provide funds to help the sexually abused children.

Assistant Quacker Beth Parker said the race brought people and business sponsors together.

“Murfreesboro has wonderful resources but the true strength is when everybody works together,” Parker said.