Third grader Olivia Goddard can hardly believe her design was picked as the T-shirt that thousands of runners will be wearing March 15 in the Operation Smile Shamrock Final Mile.

“I feel like I’m in a dream,” she said. “Someone pinch me!”

Olivia was surprised during her Physical Education class when her parents, grandparents and event organizers showed up and announced her design was selected from over 200 entries.

She worked on the design with pencils and markers over a few days at home.

“My character is based off of St. Patrick’s Day,” she said. “He is running and I wanted him to look strong and tired from running.”

Final mile participants run at school and at home in the weeks preceding the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend to accumulate 25.2 total miles. They then run the “final mile” of their marathon on race day, crossing the same finish line that will welcome the Shamrock marathoners the following day. Several VBCPS schools  participate.

This will be Olivia’s fourth year participating in the event with fellow students from Alanton Elementary. The effort supports Operation Smile, a global nonprofit that provides life-saving facial surgeries to children.

“I do the Shamrock Final Mile because I love running,” she said. “I like how Operation Smile helps kids to fix their cleft lips.”

Final Mile at Rosemont Elementary

In the photos, below, Rosemont Elementary School gears up to run the Shamrock Final Mile. Participating students line up to get measured for their new running shoes provided by J&A Racing and Running Etc.