Explosions Kill Three and Injure 100+ at Boston Marathon Finish Line

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.

According to the Associated Press, three people were killed and more than 100 others were injured. Patch continues to follow the story. 

The Boston Athletic Association website lists eight Cleveland Heights entrants.

Area running coach and founder of the Lyndhurst-based Second Sole Striders running club Kate Pophal talked to Patch about the runners she knows in the race.

"It's just awful. I'm just sick over it," she said.

She said that, though she has not spoken with any of them, she is comforted by the fact that most of their finish times, listed on the Boston Athletic Association's website, is well before the time that news agencies are reporting the bombs went off — just after the four-hour mark in the race.

There are a couple local runners she is concerned about, she said, since she knows they had set goals to finish right around four hours.

Pophal ran the Boston Marathon herself twice, including in 1996, when armed National Guard members lined the course. "It was so eerie to see these people with machine guns," she said.

But, she aded, these dangers are on theforefront of runners' minds.

"Race runners are well aware and (organizers are) always asking poeple to be vigilant. And I am positive that Boston was on top of it," she said.

The Red Cross has a website where runners can check in as safe and sound. Their loved ones can then search by name and phone number or address to see if they have checked in.

There's also a phone number to find your loved ones, 617-635-4500. If you have information that leads to suspects, call 1-800-494-TIPS.

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.