#By RENALDO DORSETT
#Sports Reporter
#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
#BAHAMIAN marathon runners were among the 30,000 athletes that braved chilly conditions to commemorate the 119th running of the Boston Marathon.
#Sidney Collie and Stephen Holowesko completed the latest edition of the storied race yesterday, in an event which has come under even greater focus since the 2013 terror attack.
#Amid rain, wind and cold temperatures, Collie, in his fifth appearance at the Boston Marathon, finished in 3:54.01s. He placed No.17438 overall and No. 3988 in the male 18-39 category.
#Holowesko, 47, crossed the line in 4:40.04s, No. 24384 overall and No. 2357 in his division, males 45-49.
#Managed by the Boston Athletic Association, the Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world’s most prestigious road racing events.
#It is held annually on Patriot’s Day, a holiday celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine in observance of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, making the Boston Marathon rich in history and tradition.
#The legendary point-to-point course starts in rural Hopkinton, passes through numerous quaint New England towns before finishing on Boylston Street in the heart of Boston.
#Runners must qualify to run the Boston Marathon by running a qualifying time at a certified marathon. Qualifying times are determined by your age on the date of the Boston Marathon in which you will be participating.
#Traditionally held the third Monday of April, it began in 1897, inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics.
#The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and ranks as one of the world’s best-known road racing events, one of six World Marathon Major events.
#Collie, 35, began his marathon running career in 2005.
#His first international race was the Jacksonville Bank Marathon and since then he has completed numerous international marathons and half marathons including, 2011 A1A Marathon (where he earned a 4th place finish), West Palm Beach Marathon, Boston, and ING New York.
#Holowesko, an avid cyclist, is also the co-founder of Ride For Hope Bahamas.
#Both have also participated locally in Marathon Bahamas.
#Collie credits his success in recent years with the assistance that he received from Sunshine Insurance/Marathon Bahamas, Dr Kathryn DeSouza and friends, and Bahamas Roadmasters. He has increased his success on the international scene following a costly mistake at the 2011 Marathon Bahamas when, by no fault of his own, while leading the race he took a wrong turn and was subsequently disqualified after assuming he had won the race.
#Collie rebounded to be the top Bahamian finisher in both the 2012 and 2013 events. Holowesko also completed the half marathon in 2014.
#The close knit marathon running community in the Bahamas is no doubt proud of the accomplishment of the athletes to qualify for the prestigious event.
#A Boston Marathon qualifying time is no longer a guarantee runners will gain entry into the field.