The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN marathon runners were among the 30,000 athletes that braved chilly conditions to commemorate the 119th running of the Boston Marathon.

Sidney Collie and Stephen Holowesko completed the latest edition of the storied race yesterday, in an event which has come under even greater focus since the 2013 terror attack.

Amid rain, wind and cold temperatures, Collie, in his fifth appearance at the Boston Marathon, finished in 3:54.01s. He placed No.17438 overall and No. 3988 in the male 18-39 category.

Holowesko, 47, crossed the line in 4:40.04s, No. 24384 overall and No. 2357 in his division, males 45-49.

Managed by the Boston Athletic Association, the Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world’s most prestigious road racing events.

It is held annually on Patriot’s Day, a holiday celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine in observance of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, making the Boston Marathon rich in history and tradition.

The legendary point-to-point course starts in rural Hopkinton, passes through numerous quaint New England towns before finishing on Boylston Street in the heart of Boston.

Runners must qualify to run the Boston Marathon by running a qualifying time at a certified marathon. Qualifying times are determined by your age on the date of the Boston Marathon in which you will be participating.

Traditionally held the third Monday of April, it began in 1897, inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics.

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and ranks as one of the world’s best-known road racing events, one of six World Marathon Major events.

Collie, 35, began his marathon running career in 2005.

His first international race was the Jacksonville Bank Marathon and since then he has completed numerous international marathons and half marathons including, 2011 A1A Marathon (where he earned a 4th place finish), West Palm Beach Marathon, Boston, and ING New York.

Holowesko, an avid cyclist, is also the co-founder of Ride For Hope Bahamas.

Both have also participated locally in Marathon Bahamas.

Collie credits his success in recent years with the assistance that he received from Sunshine Insurance/Marathon Bahamas, Dr Kathryn DeSouza and friends, and Bahamas Roadmasters. He has increased his success on the international scene following a costly mistake at the 2011 Marathon Bahamas when, by no fault of his own, while leading the race he took a wrong turn and was subsequently disqualified after assuming he had won the race.

Collie rebounded to be the top Bahamian finisher in both the 2012 and 2013 events. Holowesko also completed the half marathon in 2014.

The close knit marathon running community in the Bahamas is no doubt proud of the accomplishment of the athletes to qualify for the prestigious event.

A Boston Marathon qualifying time is no longer a guarantee runners will gain entry into the field.