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LAUREL RUN — After winning the first two 1-mile races in the Valley’s Fastest Man series, Mike Harnish was a bit concerned about just how well he’d do running the grueling 1-mile uphill Giants Despair course on Wednesday night.

After all, Jeff Skwierz, who won the Valley’s Fastest series the last two years, trailed Harnish by just eight seconds after the first two races. And Harnish figured Skwierz, who is a good distance runner, could possibly outrun him over the uphill trek.

It turn out Harnish had nothing to worry about.

Harnish won the Giants Despair Mile in 7 minutes and 1 second and captured the Valley’s Fastest series. Skwierz finished second, three seconds behind Harnish. Kyle Suponcic finished third in 7:32.

“(Giants Despair) is like a race you never did before,” said Harnish, who won All-America honors twice in the 800 meter indoor track event at Lebanon Valley College. “It seems like your body isn’t moving. You’re going as fast as you can, but your actual speed isn’t fast. I can’t remember the last time I ran a 7:01 mile — probably when I was a kid.”

But Harnish enjoyed the three races that made up the series.

“It’s really cool,” Harnish said. “It hurts. But it was a lot of fun.”

Marina Orrson won top female honors in the Giants Despair Mile, finishing fourth overall in 8:13, giving her the Valley’s Fastest Woman title for the fourth straight year. And she led the female division of the race from start to finish. She has now won 12 straight 1-milers in the Valley’s Fastest series over four years in wire-to-wire fashion.

“I’m ready for a nap — ready to retire,” said Orrson. “Not a fun one. If this race wasn’t part of the series, I would probably only run it every other year so I could forget about it during the off year.”

Tony Korch, who trailed in the male masters division of the Valley’s Fastest series after the first race, Experience Fitness Mile on the track at Misericordia University, came back strong, winning both the second race, SRRC (Susquehanna River Runners Club) Mile and Giants Despair, capturing top male masters honors.

Top overall finishers

1. Mike Harnish, 23, Annville, 7:01.82; 2. Jeff Skwierz, 33, Forty Fort, 7:04.97; 3. Kyle Suponcic, 25, Shavertown, 7:32.15; 4. Marina Orrson, 25, Shavertown, 8:13.46; 5. John Martino, 31, Dallas, 8:17.30; 6. Bob Urban, 43, Wyoming, 8:47.57; 7. Brandon Hampton, 22, Pittston, 8:51.58; 8. Tony Korch, 56, Nanticoke, 8:57.01; 9. Ryan Grochal, 32, Harding, 8:59.99; 10. Bryan Fauver, 30, 9:10.04

Top 3 Fastest Man finishers

1. Mike Harnish (Race No. 1. Experience Fitness Mile, 4:20.38, Race No. 2. SRRC Mile , 4:30.72, Race No. 3. Breaker Brewing Company Giants Despair Mile, 7:01.82; 2. Jeff Skwierz, (4:27.75, 4:30.94, 7:04.97); 3. Kyle Suponcic (4:56.10, 4:52.29, 7:32.15)

Top 3 Fastest Woman finishers

1. Marina Orrson (5:10.81, 5:12.84, 8:13); 2. Kelsey Cameron (5:44.57, 5:44.25, 10:03.22); 3. Emily Bell (5:58.42, 6:01.42, 9:36.08)

Michael Harnish, 23, of Annville, crosses the finish line to win the Giants Despair race for the male division in Laurel Run on Wednesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL082516despairrun1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMichael Harnish, 23, of Annville, crosses the finish line to win the Giants Despair race for the male division in Laurel Run on Wednesday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

Marina Orrson, 25, of Shavertown, crosses the finish line to win the Giants Despair race for the female division in Laurel Run on Wednesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL082516despairrun2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMarina Orrson, 25, of Shavertown, crosses the finish line to win the Giants Despair race for the female division in Laurel Run on Wednesday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

By Robert Miner

For Times Leader