Boston Marathon 2022: Hopkinton Trio Serves As Marathon Starters

HOPKINTON, MA - Three veteran Hopkinton town employees with a combined eight decades of service to the town helped kick off the 126th Boston Marathon on Monday, firing the starter's pistols for the second, third and fourth waves of runners.

Recently retired school resource Officer Phil Powers was chosen by the Hopkinton Marathon Committee to fire the starter's pistol for the Wave 2 runners. He began working in Hopkinton in 1987, working the midnight shift for 13 years to spend time with his children during the day.

Powers, known affectionately as "Officer Phil" and "OP," later became an officer in the D.A.R.E. program. The Hopkinton resident of 19 years continued to work with children as the school resource officer, inviting students into his office for lunch and giving out his cell phone number to youth who needed advice and support.

Mike Mansir, the manager of the town's Highway Department, served as the Department of Public Works liaison on the Hopkinton Marathon Committee.

According to a post on HCAM-TV, the town's public access cable station, Mansir, a Hopkinton native, has been involved in the Boston Marathon for a quarter of a century. He helps coordinate preparations for the marathon as well as clean up afterwards. He was selected by the committee to fire the starter's pistol for the third wave of runners.

Mary Carver, the administrative assistant for the Hopkinton Fire Department, retired earlier this year after 25 years of service. She was chosen to fire the starters pistol for Wave 4 runners.

The committee's role is to work with the Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the Boston Marathon, "to ensure the start of the annual Boston Marathon is an exciting, successful and safe event for all," according to its website.

The Hopkinton Marathon Committee has selected starters for the later waves of the Boston Marathon since the Boston Athletic Association introduced the wave start in 2006.

Check back later for Boston Marathon updates.