Update: No Known Kirkland Injuries at Boston; One Runner Expresses Shock

UPDATE, April 15, 4 p.m.: Soon after celebrating her finish in the Boston Marathon Monday, Kirkland’s runner Cynthia Santana’s joy turned to sadness, according to a report on Q13 Fox news.

She heard the first explosion from her hotel about 30 minutes after finishing.

“I heard a loud noise and I came out and asked my friend what happened,” she said by phone. “We looked out the window and saw one explosion and some smoke, and then shortly after the second explosion went off. It was very confusing and chaotic.”

As might be expected, Santana said she was shaken up by the experience.

“I’m really distraught,” she said. “This is very frightening. People come out here because it’s a goal they’ve worked so hard to achieve. It’s a personal goal and it’s a joyous time for them and right at the finish line for this to happen it’s so shocking. This kind of gives you a jolt of reality that this can happen anywhere at any time.”

For the Q13 Fox story, click here.

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Update: 3 p.m., Monday, April 15: As the toll of injured from explosions in Boston mounted, Google launched its person finder Monday to help people share information about loved ones after two explosions rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon today, and a third shortly thereafter at the JFK Library.

The Person Finder has options to add information about yourself if you are in Boston, or to search for someone you haven't yet heard from.

Among the three incidents, authorities have confirmed at least 100 people injured and two dead.

Update: 2:10 p.m.: Len Fedore, owner of Everyday Athlete, a running store in Juanita Village, said it appears the explosions occurred when people would be finishing with times of 4-5 hours, and most of the Kirkland runners he knows would have finished in under four hours.

"We were just looking up (local runners in the list), but we figured they would have be done. Unless they came back to watch others finish. It sounds like most of the people injured were spectators," Fedore said.

"It's going to be interesting though when they come back in to talk to them."

He said he did know as customers some people who were planning on running:

"Just people we know, who come in to buy their running gear, there are probably half a dozen."

Kirkland Patch received comments from several Facebook followers who know runners in the race, all with good news so far:

• Karrin Brady Wikel said, "My girlfriend was about a 1/2 mile from the finish line and her family I believe was headed to the finish line via train.....all are OK."
• Ellen Gowey said, "My friend from bothell is there running. She and her daughter are okay."
• Kerrie Rae Cabral said, "We have close friends & family that are there....they finished & are safe & sound, but that's all we know now...."

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Original story:

Though the Boston Marathon is thousands of miles away, two bomb blasts near the finish line today hit close to home as the families and friends of a dozen Kirkland residents rooted for not only their finish, but their safety.

Patch is tracking live reports at this link as the injured and dead are cared for. At least 22 people have been reportedly injured, and two dead in the most recent reports.

If you were in the Boylston Street area—of if your friends and family believe you may have been in the area—you can use the Red Cross's Safe and Well site to register yourself. The site, activated by the Red Cross for the marathon explosion, allows user to search for you by name to check on your status. 

To register your name, go to the Red Cross Safe and Well site.

The following Kirkland residents were signed up for the race:

This is a developing story; Patch will bring you more details as they become available.

Do you have a loved one participating in the race today? Please share their story with us, or ask them to call us at 425-394-3506 or email kirkland@patach.com.