FASTEST SUPER HERO — Posting the fastest time at the Super Hero Dash was 9-year-old Mason Stafford. Escorting the winner is race volunteer Murphy McKinley. (Rivet Photos)

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

HARRISON — Miranda Murphy had always felt bad for “little kids,” who either struggled to complete the Harrison Old Home Days 3.2-mile course or simply had to watch others from the sidewalk.

“I wanted to do something for kids. The 5K is too long for them, so I wanted to do something short and fun,” said Miranda. “I’ve been involved in the Harrison 5K with my mom, who has been running it for the past four years, so I had an idea what it would take to put on a kids’ race.”

By organizing and overseeing a kids’ race, Miranda could also take care of a graduation requirement as she enters her senior year at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

To graduate, each senior must complete a Senior Project. According to the school’s Student Handbook, the Senior Project is “meant to allow all seniors the opportunity to meaningfully use their own learning to create, build, invent or experience something uniquely their own that benefits themselves or others. The Senior Project encompasses the senior English research paper, a process portfolio, journal entries and a final presentation.”

All students are also required to perform a minimum of 20 hours of community service prior to earning a diploma.

“You have to come up with something that will help the community and shows you are involved in the community,” Miranda said. “You have to create a presentation, talk for a minimum of 10 minutes to a group of four teachers, and show visuals — proof of the project.”

Organization is the key to a successful event, Miranda quickly discovered.

“Everything has to be done by a certain time — on time, beforehand. All the sponsors need to know at least three weeks in advance to get their money in if they want to be on the t-shirt; I had to order the t-shirts three weeks in advance; everything has to be scheduled and planned out in order for it all to work out,” she said. “I got a lot of advice from my mom and Paula (Holt, Harrison’s rec director); it came easier to me than maybe someone doing it for the first time because I have been involved in the 5K. I definitely learned a lot from this, especially about being on time, following a schedule. And, I definitely watched the news a lot to see what the weather was going to be like.”

FASTEST GIRL — Jane Leonard (left), age 7.

To add some “fun” to the kids’ race, Miranda decided to ecourage youngsters to dress as their favorite super hero. Each participant received a lime green t-shirt with the “Superman” emblem on the front, as well as a “S” medal.

The course was simple, yet challenging for the little tikes. Following a lead car, kids started from the Harrison Town Office, proceeded along Route 35, left onto School Street, up to the fire station, and then a turnaround back along the same route to the finish line at the town office.

Some super heroes breezed along the cone-lined roadway led by 9-year-old Mason Stafford who run the half-miler in 4 minutes, 20 seconds, while others felt their super powers deflate, resulting in a few tears along the way.

“It was definitely cute, and I was really excited to see the number of people who took an interest in the race,” Miranda said. “A lot of people have told me that they would like to see this race every year. They’ve said, ‘You need to keep it going.’ I’ll try.”

SUPER HERO DASH RESULTS

1. Mason Stafford, 9, 4:20

2. Miles Stafford, 6, 4:30

3. Harrison Landry, 7, 4:32

4. Jane Leonard, 7, 4:39

5. Quintessa DiBiase, 9, 4:49

READY TO SOAR — Jack McGowan, age 7.

6. Charlie Robinson, 10, 4:54

7. Jackson Libby, 7, 4:59

8. Taylor Little, 9, 5:03

9. Vincent Catalano, 9, 5:04

10. Trevor Ward, 10, 5:19

11. Cody Monto, 7, 5:24

12. Cameron Mayhan, 5, 5:25

13. Mariah Baker, 4, 5:27

14. Ezra Tsapis, 5, 5:37

15. Liam Gregoire, 5, 5:39

16. Jack McGowan, 7, 5:43

17. Aiden Baker, 6, 5:47

18. Raymond Tucker, 8, 5:47

SUPER HERO — Jackson Libby, age 7.

19. Jameson McGowan, 5, 5:50

20. Jake Loveless, 10, 5:54

21. Noa Tsapis, 7, 6:01

22. Dylan Libby, 4, 6:18

23. Clayton McGinnis, 4, 6:20

24. Brendyn Little, 4, 6:37

25. Landon Mayhan, 3, 6:49

26. Benjamin Barker, 6, 6:50

27. Cole Micaulch, 3, 7:04

28. Brooke Taber, 6, 7:10

29. Ryley Little, 4, 7:33

30. Phaedra DiBiase, 4, 7:34

CAPED CRUSADERS — After overseeing the Super Hero Dash, race director Miranda Murphy (right) and Cameron Shaw competed in the Harrison Run by the Lake 5K.

31. Kaden Gordon, 5, 7:34

32. Conor Loveless, 3, 7:40

33. Jacob Scente, 3, 7:42

34. Matthew Dupee, 4, 7:48

35. Jude Tucker, 6, 7:52

36. Drew Toohey, 4, 8:04

37. William Toohey, 2, 8:10

Top finishers receiving special “capes” were:

Fastest Super Hero Girls

Ages 4-5: Cameron Mayhan, Naples

Ages 6-7: Jane Leonard, Harrison

Ages 8-10: Quintessa DiBiase, Harrison

Fastest Super Hero Boys

Ages 2-3: Landon Mayhan, Naples

Ages 4-5: Ezra Tsapis, Harrison

Ages 6-7: Miles Stafford, Harrison

Ages 8-10: Mason Stafford, Harrison