Waukesha Runners Witness Explosions at Boston Marathon Finish Line

Several Waukesha runners who completed the Boston Marathon have reported they are safe after an explosion killed at least two people on Monday at the marathon's finish line.

Waukesha residents Ronn and Deb Blaha ran the race in three hours, 53 minutes and 43 seconds. It was soon after they completed that the explosions started.

"My wife and I had finished about 10 to 15 minutes before the bombs went off," Ronn Blaha said in a Facebook message to Patch. "We saw the first blast and I told my wife to start walking in the opposite direction. Shortly after the second blast race personnel moved down Boylston Street telling everyone to clear out. There were agonizing moments when we couldn't get word to our families that we were OK. Cell calls and texts weren't going through."

Ronn Blaha is a math teacher and a cross country coach at Brookfield Central High School.

James Boyle’s wife, Bridget Boyle, completed the marathon and was able to send him a text message that she and everyone she was with were safe after the race. With the message, there is relief.

“I haven’t had much time to focus on what had happened,” he said.

Steve Zyduck commented on this article that Tammy Zyduck is also safe:

Tammy Zyduck who is there with her sister-in-law Beth Scasny contacted us to say they were safe. They were a couple blocks from the explosions.

Sean Luedke also finished the race.

"This is a very fragile and sad time and my thoughts are with those killed and injured and their families," he told Patch via a Facebook message.

Two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon had people carrying bloody spectators into the medical tent set up for runners, according to an Associated Press report on the Pocono Record website.

"There are a lot of people down," the AP quoted one man saying. The explosions happened about three hours after the winners crossed the finish line. 

Reuters is reporting there are no indication how may people are injured, according to a story on the Chicago Tribune website, which also said the explosions happened as people were cheering on those still completing the race.

NBC News reported fire engines, police and emergency medical personnel were headed to the scene. An affiliate reporter told NBC News she heard two loud explosions, and that "everybody kind of ducked and hit the ground," and Jackie Bruno, reporter for New England Cable News said she saw people with significant injuries, including one person with a leg blown off.

"Runners were coming in and saw unspeakable horror," Bruno said.  

Patch is following this breaking story.

The Boston Athletic Association website lists the following Waukesha entrants:

• Benjamin T. Anderson
• David J. Bates
• Deb Blaha
• Ronn Blaha
• Bridget Boyle
• Jim Finn
• Angela Frey
• James P. Gahart
• Tom Gonnering
• Tom Heydel
• Nicole Horst
• Lindsey A. Kreske
• Sean P. Luedke
• Chris A. Molaison
• Laurel Osmond
• Danielle Sabin
• Tammy S. Zyduck

All but two of the Waukesha runners have finish times recorded on the Boston Marathon website: Tom Heydel and Nicole Horst posted times of 1:58:30 and 2:03:39 respectively at the half. 

Concerned about relatives? The Red Cross has a Safe and Well website set up where you can search your friends and family members who have also updated their information.