See how Fort Collins runners fared at Boston Marathon

Forty-four people from Northern Colorado ran the 119th edition of the historic Boston Marathon Monday.

Among them was 28-year-old Fort Collins runner Mark Kucza, who experienced the world-renowned race run from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to Boylston Street for the first time.

"I was just telling a friend of mine back home that it was like a 26-mile high-five. It literally was that. Even with the crummy weather, people were out everywhere," said Kucza, who ran the race in 2 hours, 55 minutes, 12 seconds. "It just seemed so authentic."

About 30,000 people ran the Boston Marathon, and an estimated 1 million spectators braved the rain and 20-mph winds to line neighborhood streets and pour into downtown Boston to cheer the runners and celebrate Patriots' Day.

This year's race again ran under the shadow of 2013, when bombs at the finish line killed three and injured 260. In an act of inspiration, Meb Keflezighi last year became the first American to win the Boston Marathon since 1983.

Kucza said he saw "Boston Strong" signs, banners and flags everywhere, hanging from people's homes, the fire station, or on locals' T-shirts. He said you "could feel" the energy and Boston pride from the moment he stepped off his flight in Boston.

Earlier this month, 2013 Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was found guilty on all 30 counts related to the bombing. He now faces the death penalty.

Fort Collins runner Dan Berlin was near the finish line during the 2013 bombings. On Monday, the blind runner returned to Boston, running with Team With a Vision, a nonprofit that helps raise money for those affected by blindness. In October, Berlin became the first blind athlete to run the Grand Canyon's infamous, Rim to Rim to Rim.

"There's going to be a little anxiety for me as I cross that finish line. Just remembering what happened two years ago, it's going to be one of those moments, I'm sure," Berlin told 9News last week.

Berlin finished Monday's race in 4:00:17.

Asics professional runner, Adriana Nelson was the top finisher with local ties, placing third among American women with a time of 2:38:47. A longtime Fort Collins resident, Nelson moved to Boulder in 2012.

Caroline Rotich of Kenya won the women's race in 2:24:55. Desiree Linden and Shalane Flanagan were the top Americans.

Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa won his second Boston Marathon, crossing the line in 2:09:17.

Keflezighi finished eighth (2:12:42), a hamstring pull late in the race dropping him from the lead pack. Dathan Ritzenhein, a former University of Colorado cross-country star, was the top American, placing seventh in 2:11:20.

While the Boston Marathon draws the world's best marathoners, the race is unique in its stringent qualifying standards for amateur runners. It's the only American marathon that requires a qualifying time. Hitting a Boston qualifying time, or "BQ" in runner's lexicon, is a dream for many serious runners.

Kucza hit his BQ at the 2013 Chicago Marathon, running a 2:52:31 — well under the 3:05 qualifying time for men ages 18-34.

"The cool thing about Boston is that everybody is fast. Everyone qualified to get here. You know you have to pull your weight," said Kucza, who ran Monday's race with his twin brother, Jacob, of Emporia, Kansas.

Joseph Dykes, 34, of Fort Collins, was the top local finisher at Boston, running a 2:47:46. Fort Collins runners, Ryan Perrich, 32, and Brian Breitsch, 23, also broke the 3-hour barrier, running a 2:49:38, and 2:56:35, respectively.

As did Loveland's Matthew Biedron, 38, in 2:57:39 and Wellington's David Houdeshell, 44, in 2:57:36.

Bradley Ray, 46, of Loveland, competed in the wheelchair division, placing 35th with a time of 2:03:50.

Here is how Northern Colorado runners fared at Monday's Boston Marathon:

Fort Collins

Joseph Dykes, 34, 2:47:46.

Ryan Perrich, 32, 2:49:38

Mark Kucza, 28, 2:55:12

Brian Breitsch, 23, 2:56:35

Travis Trampe, 42, 3:11:33

Tony Flores, 41, 3:11:33

Joel Philliber, 46, 3:13:49

Clint Brown, 38, 3:14:47

Ryan M. Desrosiers, 45, 3:15:39

Nicole E. Lynass, 25, 3:23:38

Tony T. Garcia, 53, 3:25:51

Cat Ogle, 24, 3:26:44

Alissa Ackerman, 26, 3:27:10

Betsy Fisher, 50, 3:29:35

Kristine Sidwell, 38, 3:30:11

Barbara Martin, 39, 3:34:05

Tanna R. Albiston, 42, 3:36:42

Eric Hess, 45, 3:39:51

Kelly Curtis, 36, 3:39:51

David A. Huner, 57, 3:43:39

Melissa N. Carlyon, 35, 3:44:03

Katelyn Keating, 25, 3:45:55

Amy Hayes, 54, 3:48:08

Brendan Beers, 38, 3:51:30

Tiffany Green, 42, 3:53:01

Kim Barman, 39, 3:59:40

Dan Berlin, 44, 4:00:17

John Hagin, 71, 4:15:41

David S. Vickers, 46, 4:22:13

Joanne Harms, 63, 4:28:30

Michael Higgins, 60, 4:52:42

Loveland

Bradley F, Ray, 46, 2:03:50 (wheelchair)

Matthew Biedron, 38, 2:57:39

Bryan Williams, 39, 3:00:20

David Seabeck, 35, 3:09:00

Nicole Fellure, 35, 3:17:54

Season Doty, 41, 3:47:10

Thad Eby, 36, 3:53:06

Leonard Ponce, 49, 4:05:34

James M. Gessert, 67, 5:42:22

Windsor

Robin Bittner, 41, 3:40:14

Wellington

Stanley J. Wolff-Mills, 67, 5:10:59

David Houdeshell, 44, 2:57:36.

Estes Park



Ruby J. Bode, 34, 3:07:46

Lisa A. Marshall, 44, 3:38:48

Xplore reporter Stephen Meyers covers the outdoors and recreation for the Coloradoan. Follow him on Twitter @stemeyer or Facebook.com/meyersreports.