Arlington Heights Mayor-Elect OK Following Boston Marathon Explosion

Michael Schroeder watched the coverage of the Boston Marathon explosion on TV, praying for his friend, Tom Hayes, to be safe.

He got an answer to his prayers via a text.

“He’s OK,” Schroeder said Monday afternoon. “Right now, I am just thanking God he is OK.”

Hayes was at the airport when he texted Schroeder that he was fine. The Arlington Heights Mayor-elect had finished the marathon 55 minutes before the explosions.

According to news accounts, two people are dead and many others injured in Copley Square in Boston. The situation is very fluid and the figures of the dead and injured is changing minute by minute.

“We are all totally freaked out,” Schroeder said. “I am sitting here watching this on Fox News, but he’s OK.”

Hayes, who is married with two adult children, has run the marathon for about 23 years, said Schroeder, who was Hayes’s campaign manager. He ran the course in 3 hours 44 minutes, according to the Boston Marathon’s website.

The afternoon has been hectic for Schroeder and other friends who were trying to get information about Hayes.

“My phone has just been ringing off the hook here,” Schroeder said. “We alerted everyone and everyone was praying for him. It’s been totally crazy but he’s ok now. All of our friends are lifting him up in prayer.”

Schroeder was not sure if Hayes would be able to fly out Monday afternoon.