Five (six?) of seven Humboldt County entrants in Boston Marathon confirmed safe UPDATED

◼ What started out as a dream come true for up to seven Humboldt County runners participating in today's Boston Marathon turned into a nightmare after explosions rocked the finish line, killing at least three people and injuring more than 144 others in a horrific scene of broken glass and bloody streets. - Lorna Rodriguez and Kimberly Wear The Times-Standard

The Times-Standard was able to confirm by deadline that five of seven Humboldt County runners were safe, and that a sixth was listed by the marathon as having finished the race.

Fortuna runner Lanore Bergenske, 55, told the Times-Standard that she'd heard from fellow participant McKinleyville resident Tasha Souza, 43.

A posting on Bergenske's Facebook page indicated Weott runner Rachele Gundlach, 38, was fine. The husband of 49-year-old runner Kim Coelho, also from McKinleyville, told The Times-Standard she was OK.

KHUM spoke with Eureka resident and Ramone's owner Berit Meyer, 55, who said that she and husband Brian Ferguson were a half-mile from the finish line when the race slowed to a halt.

”Within a matter of a few seconds,” she told the Humboldt County radio station this afternoon, “I could tell something obviously was really wrong.”

The marathon listed McKinleyville resident Ben Davenport, 38, as finishing the race before the blast.

The Times-Standard was unable to confirm the status of Eureka runner Chris Hamer, 57, who was listed as an entrant by the marathon.

Times-Standard
Update: Chris Hamer is A-OK

In an email to the Times-Standard, the local attorney reports she qualified for the Boston Marathon but decided not to go because she couldn't find an affordable hotel room.
She said she's received more than 100 calls, texts and emails, and thanks everyone for their concern.
The T-S was unable to confirm her status last night when the paper went to print.

◼ Boston Marathon Explosion — Several Dead, Injured; Humboldters Appear to be OK - Lost Coast Outpost

◼ After the Marathon - Journal

Humboldt State University Professor Tasha Souza was stopped in her tracks by crowds fleeing explosions after finishing the Boston Marathon yesterday — a race she attended to honor a lost friend.

Souza was unharmed, but the day was already a poignant one for her, because she’d been running in honor of her friend Suzanne Seemann, who was killed by a car while jogging with friends from the Six Rivers Running Club in September.

“I’m physically OK,” Souza said, calling from Los Angeles while waiting for a flight home. “I went into the race a bit emotional.”