Three runners safe after bomb attack at Boston Marathon

People react as an explosion goes off near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. Two explosions went off at the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. (AP Photo/The Boston Globe, David L Ryan) MANDATORY CREDIT

Christopher Hitchman, treasurer for Leamington C&AC, was one of three runners from the Warwick district who were

running in the ill-fated marathon.

He had finished the race at least an hour before two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people, critically wounding at least 17 others and injuring dozens more.

Former Leamington C&AC runner Sally Miles (pictured above), who lives in Warwick, also took part in the race and has returned home safely.

She declined to speak to the Courier when we contacted her on Wednesday.

Kenilworth runner Joan Mason was just a mile from the finishing line when the bombs went off.

Having crossed the finish line in two hours 58 minutes and left downtown Boston in preparation for the post-race party, Mr Hitchman first heard of the bombing when a friend contacted him to see if he was OK.

The 35-year-old, who spoke to the Courier on Tuesday before flying back to the UK on Wednesday, said: “I was totally oblivious to it, when my friend called and asked how I was I just said ‘I’m a little sore’.”

“While I was running along I felt like I had a bit of cramp after 16 miles and I thought I might be on for a good personal best, then I felt it was slipping away from me and then I was happy to have ran a sub-three hour race but the whole thing was put into perspective when I heard about the events that happened.

“When I heard about the eight-year-old who died after watching his dad cross the line that put things into perspective.”

Held on Patriots Day, a Massachusetts state holiday which commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution in 1775 and requiring qualifying times for runners to enter, the race is held in high regard throughout the USA and the world.

Mr Hitchman, who had experienced the celebratory mood before the race said it was too early to gauge the effect bombings had had on people in Boston and in the US.

Joan Mason, a member of Kenilworth Runners who was taking part in the race, is understood to have been just a mile from the finish line when the explosions went off.

A statement from the club made on Tuesday morning said: “Just to confirm that Joan Mason is safe and well in Boston after the awful events at the finishing line of the Boston Marathon.

“We believe Joan may have been within a mile of the finish at the time, but definitely not involved.

“She was given clothing and money and was able to get back to her hotel.

“From all at Kenilworth Runners, come back safely Joan.”