Boston marathon tragedy hits sportsmen

Boston man Clive Weeden has spoken of his terror and helplessness when he woke in Bunbury on Tuesday to news bomb blasts had rocked his home town.

Mr Weeden, who grew up in the US city and still has family there, arrived in Australia in January to pursue a basketball career.

The 26-year-old said his sister had been “on her way to the finish line” of the world-famous Boston Marathon, where two explosions left three dead and more than 170 injured about 3am Bunbury time.

“She was close enough to hear the bombs go off but far enough away to get out of there,” Mr Weeden said.

Had he not been Down Under, Mr Weeden said he would have likely joined his sister to watch the popular international race.

“I was very happy to see an email from my sister saying she was OK and my family was OK,” he said.

“I was scrambling to make sure all my friends were OK and just wrap my head around what was going on.

“I’m as far away as I could possibly be but I still feel shocked.

“It’s affecting me even though I’m not directly there.

“It’s weird knowing all that is going on and I’m so helpless. I’m so far away.”

Meanwhile, Bunbury businessman Greg Fleay will press ahead with plans to run in Sunday’s London Marathon amid security concerns over the Boston race’s sister event.

Mr Fleay, who will leave for the UK today, said he had been “sickened” by Tuesday’s bombings.

“It was terrible. The fact they (the bombings) were at a world class marathon and I’m going to one as well has hit pretty close to home,” he said.

“I suppose I was a little worried depending on the circumstances. I was worried organisers would look at calling the marathon off.

“It’s all still going ahead with increased security. I suppose the mood is going to be tense.”

Sunday’s race will be Mr Fleay’s first time competing overseas.

The long-time runner said the London Marathon had always been a goal. Bunbury Runners Club veteran Ian Gibbs competed in the 2005 Boston Marathon and said he had been shocked by the bombings.

“I recognised the street,” he said.

“It’s the runners’ marathon. It’s very prestigious, it’s the race everyone wants to do.

“When I saw what had happened it struck a nerve.”