For the first time in 124 years, the Boston Marathon will not be run. The 2020 Boston Marathon was cancelled last Thursday due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The race, which was postponed from its original date of April 20 to September 14, will be replaced by a virtual event in which participants will receive their finisher's medal for running the 26.2-mile course.
Of the 30,000 people who were set to run in this year's marathon, Dover and Sherborn each had nine residents competing. Despite the race not taking place anymore, it seems appropriate to honors these athletes for all the hard work and preparation they put into their training: John Comella (39), George Doherty (56), Marcelo Perez-Verzini (50), Grant Rice (27), Sophie Grossbaum (22), Sara Kinney (48), Elizabeth Lynch (36), Lee Milne (24), Alessandra Saraceno (24), Qing Dong (49), Jacqueline Goudreault (24), Alexandra Lamson (22), Amelia Landberg (35), Karen Silver (38), Linda Thompson (47), Tony Downs (59), Gordon Kingsley (25), Connor Rockett (23).
It's amazing to think such a prestigious and world-renowned event that withstood two world wars, the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918, and a bombing in 2013 would be unable to find a way to take place in 2020. Unfortunately, with all that is going on in our country, it appears the organizers felt a virtual event was the best option. Hopefully, all 18 of these athletes will have the chance for redemption in 2021.
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