PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Following the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon, organizers of the Eugene Marathon say their event will go on as planned on April 28.
Eugene Marathon officials issued a statement expressing compassion for those impacted by the bombings Monday, as did many in the close-knit Oregon track community.
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“We have a close bond with our friends and colleagues in the marathon running community and we will support them however we can. The Eugene Marathon will take place as scheduled and we are working with city officials, law enforcement officials and first responders to ensure the safety of our participants and spectators,” the statement said.
Eugene is widely known as “Track Town” for its rich track and field history. Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, where Steve Prefontaine became one of sport’s legends, hosted the 2012 Olympic trials and will host the event again in 2016 before the Rio de Janeiro Games.
Olympic marathoners Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher, who both ran in Boston on Monday, live and train in Portland. Flanagan finished fourth and Goucher finished sixth.
Craig Leon, who is from Eugene, finished 10th in the men’s race.
“My heart is broken but my family and I are fine. Please pray for those who aren’t,” Goucher posted to Twitter.
Shoemakers Nike, based in Beaverton, Ore., and adidas, which has its North American headquarters in Portland, spent Monday making sure employees in Boston were safe. Adidas estimated it had some 100 employees at the event.
TrackTownUSA, the group which brings events like the Olympic trials to Eugene, also issued a statement on behalf of president Vin Lananna expressing grief over the bombings.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred in Boston today, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this horrible incident,” the statement said.
One of the more poignant outpourings of emotion over the tragedy came from Eugene runner Lauren Fleshman, who is expecting a child but was in Boston as a spectator.
“I want to write about so many things, but all I can focus on is the horrible thing that happened, that is in fact still happening for many people, while I stew in this uncomfortable mixture of relief and guilt that I’m lucky enough to be going home,” she wrote in her blog as she flew back to Oregon.
