By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

CASCO — Peter Murphy’s first introduction to the Casco Days 4 Miler came as a youngster while spending time at Camp Agawam.

“I went to Agawam from when I was eight to 15. I probably ran the race at least five of those years. It was always a fun thing,” he recalled. “You’re always so active at camp, and taking part in the race works. We used to do some training runs as part of the sports training category, and then do the race.”

Now living in Rhode Island, Peter visits family in Casco, and as part of his stay, he runs the Casco Days Race.

“It’s been fun to come back and do the race as we did as campers,” Murphy said.

It’s a race he’s recently owned.

Murphy continued his dominance Saturday winning his third straight race with a time of 20 minutes, 57 seconds — a 5:15 pace. His first win came in 2022 at 21:35, and he defended the crown in 2023 with a 21:34 ahead of “local favorite” Grady Kemp (22:04). 

Murphy and Kemp, a 19-year-old from Casco, were locked in another duel Saturday. Reaching the top of the final hill and reaching Main Street with a lead, Murphy looked over his right shoulder to see where Kemp was.

“I was dying, but I wanted to make sure I could still hold on, so I wanted to know how fast I had to push that last stretch,” he said. “It was good to see a little bit of space there.”

Murphy had plenty of kick left, crossing the finish line 13 seconds ahead of Kemp, who checked in at 21:10. Cam Shapiro, 17, of Atlanta, Ga. Was third at 21:32 while Lake Region HS runner Aidan Roberts, 17, of Casco was fourth at 22:43.

Coming off the always tough Mile 2 mark which is hilly, Murphy noticed separation at the 3 to 3 ½ mile point.

“The guy in front of me was running really well, and I was just trying to hold onto him. On the last uphill before the finish, I took off,” he said. “It wasn’t as humid as last year, but it still always feels hot out there.”

Like Murphy, Laura Pulito of Bridgton ran her win streak at Casco to three straight, finishing in 25:51, ahead of Dara Frank, 34, of New York, who posted a time of 26:40.

Her approach Saturday was quite simple, “Have fun and see what happens,” the Lake Region HS varsity cross-country coach said. “I haven’t felt great, ever since I ran Boston (Marathon). I think I started training again too soon and I’m dealing with some fatigue.”

Early on, Pulito ran with one of her former Laker runners, Abigail Roberts. On Mile 2, she focused on catching some of the male runners ahead of her.

“And then, I just held on for the last two miles. I was zeroing in one another (male) runner on the last mile to help get me through,” she said. “I was relieved when I finished. I wasn’t happy with my time, but I wasn’t looking to run a fast time.”

She was 30 seconds off her 2023 winning time.

When asked what she enjoys about competitive running, Pulito said, “That’s hard to say. I think it’s changed as I’ve gotten older. I like improving and being able to see that I’ve improved from high school to college and then post college. You can keep growing, and you can do it for as long as your body lets you.”

The message she passes to her Laker athletes is one she too follows, “I want them to love it and have fun. I want them to be competitive, but what I love seeing is how many of them are still running after they’ve graduated. It’s kind of a measure of our success. When I go to a race like this and see these kids are a year or two or three out of our program, and they’re still running and loving it, it’s awesome to see. I don’t want them to feel burnt out, like they were pushed too hard through high school and then they want to be done with it. I want them to be hungry for more and still enjoy it.”

Race Stats: There were 500 finishers at the 2024 Casco Days Race...There were 277 males and 219 females entered.

How They Finished

1. Peter Murphy, 34, Warren, RI, 20:57

2. Grady Kemp, 19, Casco, 21:10

3. Cam Shapiro, 17, Atlanta, GA, 21:32

4. Aidan Roberts, 17, Casco, 22:43

5. James Butcher, 38, Lexington, MA, 22:55

6. Jack Morrissey, 29, Los Angeles, CA, 24:06

7. Casey Carroll, 52, 24:12

8. Ethan Stanley, 21, Raymond, 24:16

9. Michael Beam, 32, Raymond, 24:46

10. Christian Bassett, 41, Casco, 25:10

11. Eric Darling, 51, 25:17

12. Eliot Faith, 15, Raymond, 25:30

13. Michael Clarke, 18, 25:34

14. Laura Pulito, 30, Bridgton, 25:51

15. Brian Bannon, 34, Sebago, 26:16

16. Dave Sheldrick, 49, Sebago, 26:18

17. Dara Frank, 34, New York, NY, 26:40

18. Jared Connell, 42, Carlisle, MA, 26:54

19. Jack Heaton, 16, Hopkinton, MA, 27:00

20. Frances Chorley, 21, Raymond, 27:11

21. Kyle Conforte, 67, Bridgton, 27:15

22. Steven Shapiro, 53, New York, NY, 27:16

23. Adam Bowden, 43, Lexington, KY, 27:17

24. Jake Wagner, 15, Stonington, CT, 27:32

25. Ron Valentine, 37, Casco, 27:34

Area Participants

26. Michael Wheeler, 14, Raymond, 27:37

27. Abigail Roberts, 18, Casco, 27:48

29. Kyle Jordan, 24, Raymond, 27:55

31. Heath Roberts, 45, Casco, 28:09

32. Ken Ross, 62, Harrison, 28:13

42. Kai Okiura, 15, Raymond, 29:12

43. Julien Turmenne, 20, Casco, 29:13

45. Ethan Nutella, 17, Naples, 29:24

47. Will Furlanetto, 15, Raymond, 29:30

48. Zachary Tomlinson, 32, 29:33

50. Tristan Cormier, 19, Bridgton, 29:44

52. Graeme Scales, 14, Bridgton, 29:47

53. Oliver Gordon, 11, Sebago, 29:49

54. Henry Pollack, 14, Raymond, 29:52

57. Cabor Donahue, 11, Raymond, 30:19

58. Sara Bradley, 44, Waterford, 30:20

59. Daniel Jaronczyk, 14, Bridgton, 30:24

61. Jayden Jones, 15, Bridgton, 30:26

62. Harry Good, 14, Raymond, 30:35

63. Nate Plati, 14, Sebago, 30:39

64. Josh Sibblies, 15, Raymond, 30:44

65. Justin Millette, 30, Casco, 30:45

66. Chris Valentine, 24, Casco, 30:47

68. Jason Nadeau, 41, Bridgton, 30:59

69. Gavin Vergo, 12, Raymond, 31:04

71. Niko Yang, 10, Raymond, 31:07

75. Lauren Stone, 24, Casco, 31:24

76. Javier Austin, 14, Sebago, 31:24

78. Oona Frears, 13, Raymond, 31:30

79. Lucian Bassett, 17, Casco, 31:31

81. Andrew Tsiropinas, 44, Casco, 31:36

82. Daphne Easterly-Zeb, 15, Raymond, 31:40

83. Karen Woulfe, 23, Raymond, 31:43

84. Jack Fitzgerald, 14, Raymond, 31:43

87. Garth Altenburg, 51, Raymond, 31:47

88. Averey Klein, 15, Casco, 31:49

89. Alec Lagunes, 17, Raymond, 31:52

90. Camille Why, 14, Raymond, 31:53

91. Peter Walsh, 14, Raymond, 31:53

92. Harrison Field, 13, Raymond, 31:53

93. Charlotte Talmadge, 14, Raymond, 31:56

95. Eric Lonnegren, 19, Raymond, 32:05

96. Ivy Hach, 15, Raymond, 32:05

97. David McMillan, 21, Raymond, 32:06

98. Parker Boyd, 10, 32:10

99. Liam Calder, 12, Raymond, 32:16

100. Ollie Needham, 11, Raymond, 32:17

102. John Richards, 12, Raymond, 32:27

107. Morgan McClean, 32, 33:00

110. Zak Schweitzer, 11, Raymond, 33:17

111. Michelle McCarthy, 22, Raymond, 33:20

113. Remy Csendes, 13, Raymond, 33:30

116. Katharine Celata, 32, Raymond, 33:38

117. Alice Grellier, 27, Raymond, 33:38

121. Lincoln Faith, 13, Raymond, 33:43

126. John Van Dyke, 25, Casco, 34:07

129. Kellam Endres, 14, Raymond, 34:10

132. Katharine Ralph, 40, Casco, 34:23

134. Devin Van Dyke, 32, Casco, 34:28

136. Linden Läufer, 12, Raymond, 34:37

138. Stephanie Broadbent, 42, Casco, 34:40

139. Sam Legaspi, 21, Raymond, 34:46

140. Lucas Maher, 14, Raymond, 34:48

142. Chloe Champoux, 14, Casco, 34:55

147. Henry Albanese, 14, Raymond, 35:15

151. Angelina Rosario, 22, Raymond, 35:27

153. Lavely Corbin, 15, Raymond, 35:39

157. Nathan Burd, 15, Casco, 35:52

160. Bronson Stanley, 15. Raymond, 35:59

164. Juliette Johnson, 20, Casco, 36:19

170. Eric Burd, 18, Casco, 36:38

171. Erin Sampson, 47, Casco, 36:38

172. Olivia Dannibale, 16, Casco, 36:38

173. Rebecca Leclerc, 37, Casco, 36:44

175. Aidan Nicolas, 16, Raymond, 36:50

178. David Koestler, 21, Raymond, 37:05

179. Archer Snell, 20, Raymond, 37:06

187. James Chubbuck, 16, Raymond, 37:25

189. Jeremy Davis, 53, Casco, 37:31

191. Colby Galvin, 15, Naples, 37:38

192. Holden Hess, 10, Sebago, 37:43

194. Celestine Warren, 32, Casco, 37:47

195. Patrick Goff, 10, Sebago, 37:47

196. Obi Vermylen, 11, Raymond, 37:50

197. Luis Merino, 26, Casco, 38:10

201. Steve Mortimer, 74, Raymond, 38:23

202. Amelia Baum, 15, Raymond, 38:23

203. Campbell Corbin, 13, Raymond, 38:23

207. Colin Murphy, 19, Bridgton, 38:27

211. Sienna Maciel, 15, Casco, 38:48

212. Gabi Castelli, 15, Casco, 38:49

214. Monica Quinn, 36, Naples, 38:52

215. Leo Figge, 19, Raymond, 39:01

217. Charlie Schlesinger, 12, Raymond, 39:05

218. Mojo MacMillan, 15, Raymond, 39:07

221. Clare Starvish, 13, Raymond, 39:15

225. Millard Nadeau, 66, Casco, 39:45

234. Madison Kahn, 13, Raymond, 40:03

235. Taylor Adams, 13, Raymond, 40:03

240. McKenzie Kahn, 16, Raymond, 40:33

241. Abby Lonnegren, 21, Raymond, 40:37

244. Andrew Stanley, 53, Raymond, 40:50

249. Diego Alvarez Hibb, 18, Raymond, 41:12

251. Campbell Wolfe, 16, Casco, 41:27

253. Joseph Rivera, 24, Raymond, 41:32

255. Jack Nims, 12, Raymond, 41:43

256. Kadin Hertzog, 14, Raymond, 41:43

257. Khloii Charles, 14, Raymond, 41:47

258. Alex Goldsmith, 15, Raymond, 41:49

259. Teo Middleton, 12, Raymond, 41:54

260. J. Bruce Murphy, 75, Raymond, 41:57

262. Andrew Yum, 15, Raymond, 42:08

263. Teddy Lehmann, 14, Raymond, 42:09

265. Shamus Shea, 36, Raymond, 42:09

266. Fiona Daggett, 10, Naples, 42:09

267. Skylar Anderson, 10, Casco, 42:10

268. Nathaniel Wheaton, 13, 42:14

269. Gibson McIlvain, 13, Raymond, 42:16

270. Jackson Williamson, 11, Raymond, 42:25

279. Charlie Goldman, 13, Sebago, 42:54

284. Nash Shane, 10, Naples, 43:08

285. Adeline Hancock, 14, Casco, 43:13

286. Will Pacinda, 16, Raymond, 43:28

289. Alaina Clark, 38, Norway, 43:38

290. Isaac Somajni, 16, Raymond, 43:39

293. Gonzalo Secades, 15, Sebago, 43:51

294. Will Connelly, 16, Sebago, 43:53

301. Alanna Yannelli, 42, Sebago, 44:12

302. Olivia Lindsay, 14, Sebago, 44:13

305. Livia Turner, 14, Casco, 44:29

306. Abby Terrell, 15, Casco, 44:29

307. Catherine Bickford, 15, Casco, 44:29

315. Jack Gomez, 15, Raymond, 45:41

316. Eric Snell, 16, Raymond, 45:42

317. Sarah Blank, 40, Casco, 45:48

318. Aldert Blank, 53, Casco, 45:48

321. Megan Regis, 42, Bridgton, 46:19

325. Kerry McKenney, 46, South Casco, 46:42

326. Rory Barton, 15, Raymond, 47:00

327. Eamon Hart, 13, Raymond, 47:03

329. Miguel Fernandez, 14, Raymond, 47:04

331. Maxx Hogan, 13, Raymond, 47:07

332. Charlotte Tool, 14, Casco, 47:08

333. Paige Piper, 14, Casco, 47:08

334. Ryan Allen, 14, Casco, 47:09

335. Odin Hebert, 15, Sebago, 47:13

336. Kim Flanagin, 61, 47:27

337. Ashley Emery, 35, 47:29

338. Grace Gaumont, 14, 47:34

342. Teddy Magischen, 12, Sebago, 48:06

344. Regina Heinze, 14, Casco, 48:23

349. Emma Weitzel, 15, Casco, 48:37

351. Abby Brown, 12, Raymond, 48:43

354. Rodrigo Nieto, 14, Sebago, 48:53

357. Gonzalo Lopez, 16, Sebago, 48:56

358. Luisita Souss, 15, Casco, 48:57

361. Sam Katz, 14, Casco, 49:17

362. Sam Kuon, 15, Casco, 49:18

363. Edie Lyu, 12, Raymond, 49:19

364. Madison Farley, 13, Raymond, 49:37

368. Benjamin Kemp, 12, Casco, 49:47

369. Madelyn Long, 17, Casco, 50:01

371. Joshua Long, 14, Casco, 50:09

374. Kimberly Stiffler, 16, Naples, 50:20

375. Thomas Haenle, 14, Sebago, 50:26

378. Joya Nath, 14, Casco, 50:57

379. Janet Guidi, 70, Harrison, 50:58

382. Karen Van Dyke, 63, Casco, 51:52

383. Paul Lachance, 77, Raymond, 52:03

391. Irwin Price, 83, Casco, 52:34

392. Scarlett Tsiropinas, 11, Casco, 52:51

393. Simone Tsiropinas, 8, Casco, 52:53

395. Cam Galvan, 14, Casco, 53:11

395. Aisling Garrity, 14, Casco, 53:11

396. Karen Tsiropinas, 43, Casco, 53:16

406. Ruby Kestner, 9, Casco, 55:27

407. Brian Kestner, 52, Casco, 55:30

409. Anita Field, 48, Sebago, 56:18

414. Joshua Burd, 45, Casco, 57:16

415. Vincent Stucchi, 16, Sebago, 57:20

419. Delia Gottleib, 14, Casco, 58:07

420. Kelsey Doyle, 17, Casco, 58:07

421. David Heaton, 70, Casco, 58:09

422. Henry Richards, 14, Raymond, 58:13

423. Ollie Pollack, 10, Raymond, 58:14

424. Grover Hogan, 11, Raymond, 58:22

425. Alex Ben-Artzi, 13, Raymond, 58:25

426. Cooper Auerswald, 14, Raymond, 58:27

427. Henry York, 12, Raymond, 58:27

428. Alex Ricchiardone, 12, Raymond, 58:31

429. Sixten Telander-R, 12, Raymond, 58:32

430. Sarah Deleon, 13, Casco, 58:53

432. Siri Deshamais, 14, Casco, 58:55

435. Oliver York, 14, Raymond, 59:13

436. Everett Roebuck, 13, Raymond, 59:18

437. Owen Koby, 14, Raymond, 59:19

438. Henry Baxter, 15, Raymond, 59:20

439. Alex Calder, 14, Raymond, 59:20

440. Teddy Calabrese, 12, Raymond, 59:22

441. Ford Christianson, 13, Raymond, 59:24

442. Naima Baldwin, 14, Casco, 59:46

443. Martin Gonzalez-M, 19, Sebago, 59:54

445. Mia Leonardo, 14, Casco, 59:57

450. Cole Shane, 13, Naples, 1:02.31

453. Gabby Meinck, 14, Casco, 1:03.50

454. Maggie Cleary, 14, Casco, 1:03.52

461. Greg Wilkin, 72, Casco, 1:05.46

462. Hayes Bjarke, 13, Sebago, 1:07.04

463. Joyce Burd, 77, Casco, 1:07.56

465. Megan Shapiro, 52, Casco, 1:07.58

470. Trey Baum, 17, Raymond, 1:08.17

472. Shauna Perry-Smith, 42, Naples, 1:08.24

473. Alexander Pleychaty, 10, Sebago, 1:09.59

476. Nicky Harris, 17, Sebago, 1:10.57

477. Liam Heffernan, 19, Raymond, 1:11.57

478. Elijah Hayes, 13, Raymond, 1:11.57

481. Everett Wilk, 7, Sebago, 1:14.53

489. Carolyn Shapiro, 81, Casco, 1:17.52

498. Jim Arsham, 82, Casco, 1:24.12

498. Roger Deitz, 81, Casco, 1:24.13