Boston Marathon runners given finisher's medals

Runners who failed to complete the Boston Marathon after a terrorist attack near the finishing line were today presented with finisher’s medals by a senior member of the event’s organisers.

And the Boston Athletic Association’s (BAA) Dr John Coyle told the runners that – despite being unable to finish – they would get automatic qualification for next year’s event.

Six of the seven who failed to complete the race after two explosions rocked the event, killing and severely injuring spectators, were presented with the medals at a special ceremony at Government House.

Dr Coyle said he met a Bermuda runner in the Copley Plaza Hotel, near the finishing line and scene of the blasts, after the April  tragedy.

He said that he was travelling to Bermuda on vacation and decided to bring Boston Marathon medals to present to the runners who were pulled up, some of them almost within sight of the finish.

Dr Coyle said: “I was glad to hear that all the runners from Bermuda, but sorry that seven were unable to finish the race.

But he added that he thought “it would be an honour to bring the medals here to present them.”

He added: “The marathon is not only a Boston event, but a global event, with close to 20 per cent international runners.”

And Dr Coyle said: “I’m so proud of Boston and the way the world and the running community responded.”

He added there had been “incredible outpourings of support and acts of kindness” since the bombings.

Governor George Fergusson, who lived and worked in Boston for several years as a UK diplomat, said: “This is an unusual event for us, but I think it brings home the very close connections between Bermuda and our neighbor to the north, the city of Boston.”

Premier Craig Cannonier, flanked by Tourism and Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell and Community and Cultural Development Minister Wayne Scott, welcomed Dr Coyle to Bermuda.

Mr Cannonier added: “This is truly an occasion that out of tragedy we can still come together and find opportunities of good.”

The ceremony was linked by live feed to the UK Consul General in Boston, Susie Kitchens, and Boston Police Superintendent Billy Evans, who completed the marathon himself before the explosions.

Supt Evans thanked Bermuda for marking the loss of life and injury with a moment of silence before the annual May 24 half marathon in Bermuda and before the medals were presented at Government House.

He added: “Next year’s marathon is going to be bigger and better and I hope everybody who got a qualification from the BAA will step up and will finish.”