The Waddle Winner is Akira Carter, 21 months, from Vineland. (Photos courtesy of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority)
The annual Wildwoods Loves Waddlers Baby Waddle Contest on Tuesday saw tots race their way to victory during the island’s friendly competition.
Tots ages 24 months and younger showed up to flaunt their crawling and waddling skills while vying for the titles of Crawl Winner and Waddle Winner.
The event had two categories – The Crawl and The Waddle. Participants were placed in the center of a colorful, 45-foot-diameter circle and encouraged by their parents to crawl or waddle to the edge.
The first baby in each category to crawl or waddle outside of the circle was declared the winner and received a family pack to Morey’s Amusement Piers and Water Parks.
Taking top honors were Waddle winner Akira Carter, 21 months, from Vineland, and Crawl winner Arely Joyce Penugonda, 10 months, from Philadelphia.
The annual tradition serves as a fun prequel event to the Wildwoods Baby Parade, which took place Wednesday along the Wildwoods Boardwalk for its historic 115th year.
The Crawl Winner is Arely Joyce Penugonda, 10 months, from Philadelphia.
