What should have been a glorious sporting event turned to tragedy on Patriots' Day in Boston, after two bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
The tragedy hits close to home, due to the large number of Saskatchewan people at the race.
An estimated 22 of the runners at the Marathon were from Saskatchewan including at least three from the Battlefords and area.
Competing in the race from this region were Lindsay Harrison, 28, of North Battleford; Brian Graw, 50, of Battleford and Robert St. Amant, 51 of Meota. According to the Boston Athletic Association site, all three runners finished the race well before the explosions took place.
Graw, who had competed in the marathon before, raced this year alongside his sister Anna Graw-Bielecki, 49, who lives in Newmarket, Ont. but grew up in the Battlefords.
Their progress attracted the interest of Mayor Derek Mahon of Battleford, who lives just down the street from Graw in Battleford.
At town council Monday, Mahon remarked he watched the marathon on TV and happened to see both Brian and Anna running in the pack in the race. He said he learned through social media they later crossed the finish line together.
"When they did cross the finish line that was 45 minutes before the explosions took place there," said Mahon. "The indication was they were all in good health."
Mahon also knew that Graw's wife and mother were there, and that Anna's son was also there. "He went there and wanted to run it with his sister, who also does a lot of running."
