BOSTON — Running alone Monday down the canyon of music and cheering onlookers that was Boylston Street, Byrne Decker sprinted toward the finish, his face contorted with effort. But as soon as he completed the last steps of the 26.2-mile race, Decker relaxed and broke into a broad grin.
What a difference from his last Boston Marathon nine years ago, when he blazed through 17 miles on a 2-hour, 22-minute pace, then shuffled home in 2:58.
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Staff photo by Herb Swanson |
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Byrne Decker of Yarmouth, who "felt stronger as I went along," crosses the finish of the Boston Marathon as the 38th finisher on Monday. Decker was the first finisher from Maine. |
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"I never really had a problem," Decker said after finishing in 2 hours, 27.03 seconds (2:26:57 chip time), good for 38th overall and No. 1 among Mainers.
"It was great. That's one of the few times I've been able to finish a marathon with something left. . . . I felt stronger as I went along."
Decker, a 35-year-old lawyer from Yarmouth, accepted a silver foil blanket from a volunteer and explained why he appeared so pained at the finish.
"The music, the fans, the announcer, that was pretty cool," he said. "That doesn't lend itself to easing up. You feel like you owe it to the fans to grit your teeth and give it your best 'til the end."
More than a half-hour later, when the sun finally broke through a persistent cloud cover, Denise Jewell of Cumberland became the first Maine woman to finish (and 63rd woman overall), in 3:03:05 (3:01:49 chip).
Jewell, like Decker a defending champion of the Maine Marathon, ran 3 minutes and 3 seconds faster (chip) than Donna Hurley of Spruce Head.
"Perfect conditions," said Jewell, 36, who over the first 16 miles ran in near lockstep with a woman from Pennsylvania she met at the start.
"It's rare you find someone who runs exactly like you," Jewell said. "It was great."
Ken Cotton, 52, of Bristol was beaming after his seventh Boston, and it had nothing to do with his time.
"I had a blast," he said. "I high-fived all the women at Wellesley (College). I made sure I high-fived every kid I could. This is the one for fun."
Alison Kisch of Portland has given birth to two girls since she last ran Boston in 1997.
"They say pregnancies sometimes make you stronger," she said. "I'd like to think that's true."
Kisch posted her best time in Boston, 3:27:07 (3:23:04 chip), after recovering from an anxious morning that saw her bus get lost on the way to the start in Hopkinton, Mass.
The driver followed two other yellow buses that actually were going to schools.
Kisch said Jill Storey of Cumberland was on a bus that broke down, but both women started on time, with Storey finishing in 3:35:10 (3:30:57 chip).
After Sunday's warm temperatures, Monday's mist helped produce a women's course record and a relatively mild day in the medical tents.
"It was humid and cold," said Barry Fifield, 45, of Gray, the third Mainer after Decker and Matthew Carter, 30, of Boothbay Harbor. "I threw my gloves away around mile 12, gave them to a kid. Then I wished I'd kept 'em."
Foggy skies grounded the helicopters used to beam television feeds from the lead vehicles for the first 20 minutes of the race.
That meant viewers were treated to the full sea of humanity that surges through Hopkinton and reinforced part of what makes Boston special. In what other major sporting event do the non-fleet compete concurrently with the elite?
"It's Boston, it's great," said Mark Steege of Standish, one of the 11 Mainers (of 152 entered) who despite cramps in both quads completed the storied course in under three hours.
"I don't think you care too much about times at Boston. You just want to be a part of it."
Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at: gjordan@pressherald.com
MAINE FINISHERS
38. Byrne Decker, Yarmouth, Maine, 2:27:03 (2:26.57);
395. Matthew R. Carter, Boothbay, 2:49:02 (2:48:18); 429. Barry Fifield, Gray, 2:49:41 (2:49:33); 501. Mark W. Steege, Standish, 2:51:28 (2:51:18); 581. Thomas St. Germain, Bar Harbor, 2:53:36 (2:53:21); 757. Joseph Bertolaccini, Winslow, 2:56:30 (2:56:19); 777. Hans Brandes, Falmouth, 2:56:42 (2:56:05); 891. James Toulouse, Cape Elizabeth, 2:58:00 (2:57:22); 902. Judson Esty-Kendall, Glenburn, 2:58:08 (2:57:07); 958. Stephen Reed, Wiscasset, 2:58:50 (2:58.43); 979. Mike Grant, Scarborough, 2:59:05 (2:58:27); 1,132. Stephen Strout, Scarborough, 3:00:47 (3:00:30); 1,140. Gary Allen, Cranberry Island, 3:00:50 (2:59:45); 1,238. Paul Goransson, Eliot, 3:01.56 (3:01:17); 1,321. Denise Jewell, Cumberland, 3:03:05 (3:01:49); 1,364. Bob Dunfey, York, 3:03:34 (3:02:55); 1,451. Perry Le Breton, Kenduskeag, 3:04:37 (3:04:20); 1,514. James Newett, Ellsworth, 3:05:18 (3:04:45); 1,575. Donna Hurley, Spruce Head, 3:05:51 (3:04:52); 1,614. Peter Hagerman, Gardiner, 3:06:12 (3:04:52); 1,826. Robert Brooks, Portland, 3:07:55 (3:06:00); 2,070. Michael Grigware, Biddeford, 3:10:04 (3:07:11); 2132. Michael Trundy, Hebron, 3:10:36 (3:09:59); 2,227. Jonathan Spelke, Bowdoinham, 3:11:22 (3:09:09); 2,348. Richard L'Heureux, Sanford, 3:12:16 (3:08:57); 2,538. David Painter, Bar Harbor, 3:13:59 (3:11:37); 2,641. Ken Cotton, Bristol, 3:14:47 (3:11:50); 2,811. Tom Trytek, Lewiston, 3:16:07 (3:15:21); 2812. Robert Brainerd, Lewiston (3:16:08); 3,225. Tom Getchell, Cape Elizabeth, 3:19:03 (3:16:28); 3,260. David Dent, Whiting, 3:19:20 (3:17:01); 3,325. Bob Poirier, Minot, 3:19:43 (3:17:21); 3,355. Dean Jacobs, Damariscotta, 3:19:53 (3:18:30); 3,374. Mark Berman, Eliot, 3:19:59 (3:19:04); 3,85. Michael Benjamin, Ellsworth, 3:20:51 (3:16:09); 3,516. Graham Veysey, Lewiston, 3:21:06 (3:20:02); 3,656. Chuck Thorp, Yarmouth, 3:21:59 (3:20:39); 3831. Scott Minzy, Bath, 3:23:10 (3:22:00); 3,885. Kenneth Voorhees, Litchfield, 3:23:33 (3:19:09); 4,018. Terrence Connelly, Eliot, 3:24:28 (3:18:52); 4,118. Elizabeth McLaughlin, Caratunk, 3:25:17; 4,149. Wendi Cryan, York, 3:25:30 (3:20:39); 4,253. Richard Lyons, 3:26:19 (3:24:02); 4,378. Alison Kisch, Portland, 3:27:07 (3:23:04); 4,454. Davis Hartwell, Portland, 3:27:36 (3:21:40); 4,526. Thomas Maxfield, Windham, 3:27:58 (3:25:23); 4,920. John Rolfe, Portland, 3:30:38 (3:26:39); 4,934. Kevin Johnson, Bar Harbor, 3:30:46 (3:27:50); 4,987. Katrina Bisheimer, Bangor, 3:31:05 (3:27:42); 4,991. Erik Seastead, Fairfield, 3:31:06 (3:26:14); 5,122. Laurie Gaudreau, Springvale, 3:32:05 (3:25:41); 5,293. Jennifer Humphreys, Portland, 3:33:06 (3:26:01); 5,318. Dino Joannides, Round Pond, 3:33:19 (3:27:36); 5,369. Charles Carter, Yarmouth, 3:33:41 (3:32:16); 5,403. Daniel Thayer, Auburn, 3:33:52 (3:29:39); 5,486. Julie Skillings, Portland, 3:34:26 (3:28:53); 5,487. Barry Kurland, Cumberland, 3:34:26 (3:31:22); 5,599. Jill Storey, Cumberland, 3:35:10 (3:30:57); 5,861. Joel Croteau, Biddeford, 3:36:46 (3:30:44); 5,997. Daniel Dishner, Camden, 3:37:33 (3:32:38); 6,029. Jennifer Desena, Cape Elizabeth, 3:37:43 (3:32:02); 6,042. Daniel Milan, Brewer, 3:37:48 (3:32:17); 6,060. Paul Josephson, Waterville, 3:37:56 (3:33:05); 6,285. Christopher Almy, Charleston, 3:39:25 (3:33:23); 6,321. Harry White, Scarborough, 3:39:36 (3:32:26); 6,342. Rob Boudewijn, Portland, 3:39:43 (3:34:29); 6,402. John A. Reali Sr., North Yarmouth, 3:40:11 (3:34:26); 6,554. Mary Parsons, Hampden, 3:41:16 (3:32:49); 6,693. Steven Saunders, Hampden, 3:42:11 (3:37:20); 6,948. Becky Harkema, Scarborough, 3:43:53 (3:37:28); 6,962. Jen Blastow, Otisfield, 3:43:58 (3:37:31); 7,091. Philip Pierce, Falmouth, 3:44:53 (3:44:34); 7,106. Eileen Dunfey, Cape Elizabeth, 3:44:58 (3:38:02); 7,399. Michelle Lange, Cumberland, 3:46:45 (3:40:29); 7,764. Chip Kelley, Cape Elizabeth, 3:49:13 (3:35:56); 7,831. Joe McGurn, Spruce Head, 3:49:39 (3:44:50); 7,901. Roxanne Fakhouri, Scarborough, 3:50:08 (3:41:35); 7,974. Carol Hogan, Portland, 3:50:36 (3:47:42); 7,994. Mary C. Brandes, Falmouth, 3:50:41 (3:42:30); 8,058. Merrily J. Welch, Farmington, 3:51:04 (3:43:31); 8,059. Beth A. Allen, Farmington, 3:51:05 (3:43:29); 8,080. Clifford B. Olson, Yarmouth, 3:51:13 (3:44:56); 8,102. Michael G. Bertie, Falmouth, 3:51:22 (3:39:41); 8,114. Peter G. West, Wiscasset, 3:51:30 (3:47:46); 8,125. Michael J. Samson, Brunswick, 3:51:35 (3:46:53); 8,388. Bill W. Paradis, North Berwick, 3:53:12 (3:48:03); 8,503. Susan K. Brennan, 3:53:55 (3:46:59); 8,769. Kip Nelson, Hampden, 3:55:43 (3:49:59); 8,798. Edward L. Hatch, Palermo, 3:55:53 (3:50:02); 8,935. Kristine Gewin, Brunswick, 3:56:48 (3:39:09); 8,946. Jennifer K. Snow, Brunswick, 3:56:55 (3:49:24); 8,964. Emily A. Broadhead, Auburn, 3:57:04 (3:49:11); 8,965. Amy K. Tchao, Falmouth, 3:57:04 (3:49:11); 9,067. Gregory J. Kaknes, York, 3:57:51 (3:51:54); 9,266. Philip W. Conkling, Rockland, 3:58:04 (3:44:17); 9,294. Christopher A. Gould, Yarmouth, 3:59:21 (3:54:13); 9,554. Mary Louise McEwen, 4:01:24 (3:52:31); 9,763. Linnea R. Olsen, Saco, 4:02:59 (3:54:40); 9,877. Laurilyn A. Dowling, Falmouth, 4:03:54 (3:54:51); 9,881. Betsy E. McGrail, Readfield, 4:03:55 (3:55:42); 10,046. Regina H. Erskine, Portland, 4:05:16 (3:57:10); 10254. Diane Ross, Owls Head, 4:07:03 (3:57:35); 10,285. Nelson J. Larkins, Freeport, 4:07:21 (4:03:47); 10,427. Rosalyn Randall, Portland, 4:08:36 (4:00:16); 10,474. Holly S. Peckham, Biddeford, 4:09:05 (3:55:12); 10,525. Jay P. Harper, Portland, 4:09:36; 10,573. Thomas F. Reardon, Jr., Mt. Desert Island, 4:10:10 (3:58:17); 10,659. Joan N. Merriam, Bucksport, 4:11:01 (4:02:29); 10,760. Judy Gilman, Westbrook, 4:11:53 (4:03:03); 10,832. Janice Pilotte, Bangor, 4:12:38 (4:02:26); 10,880. Diane Gagnon, Old Orchard Beach, 4:13:06 (4:03:59); 11,216. Patrice Farrey, York Beach, 4:16:56 (3:58:57); 11,224. John J. Finn, Brunswick, 4:17:01 (4:11:55); 11,252. Sarah Plummer, Damariscotta, 4:17:18 (4:09:20); 11,271. Brenda M. Bell, Saco, 4:17:34 (4:08:45); 11,329. Ronald J. Paquette, Biddeford, 4:18:27 (4:12:25); 11,821. Ellen R. Spring, Thomaston, 4:24:51 (4:15:56); 11,914. Nancy G. McKay, Bangor, 4:25:59 (4:15:47); 12,028. Donna Cormier, Fryeburg, 4:27:33 (4:14:56); 12,673. Joseph A. Montimurro, Cumberland, 4:38:36 (4:27:10); 13,023. Russell Wogan, South Portland, 4:45:37 (4:45:03); 13,074. Richard A. Bennett, Norway, 4:47:02 (4:32:32); 13,165. Ross J. Lane, Franklin, 4:48:55 (4:39:14); 13,204. Michael A. Musca, Falmouth, 4:49:59 (4:49:21); 13,213. Louisa Dunlap, Belfast, 4:50:04 (4:40:14); 13,228. Matthew C. Kryder, South Portland, 4:50:18 (4:36:02); 13,593. Dawna M. Labrecque, Alfred, 5:00:02 (4:46:35); 13,594. Allayne J. Watson, Wells, 5:00:02 (4:46:35); 13,714. Frank Vied, Acton, 5:04:11 (4:52:45); 13,756. Michelle Oh, Portland, 5:05:44 (4:50:01); 13,800. Rene Collins, Brewer, 5:06:57 (4:56:19); 13,804. Carlton Mendell, 5:07:05 (5:01:48); 13,844. David Ott, Cumberland, 5:08:23 (4:54:14).
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