THE Boston Marathon crown continues to evade Carcoar wheelchair racing champion Kurt Fearnley as he placed third in an exciting sprint finish today.

After a frenetic start which saw the men’s field pushing at an average speed of 41.4 kilometres an hour through the first five kilometres, it came down to a battle between three of the world’s best – Fearnley, Marcel Hug and Ernst Van Dyke.

They were side-by-side with 300 metres to go before Swiss ace Hug managed to gap his rivals and claim victory by one length in a time of one hour, 24 minutes and six seconds.

Van Dyke just held out Fearnley in an extremely tight battle for second – there was just a wheel rim in it – but the CSU graduate was still pleased with his effort. 

“To finish on the podium here is a good result,” Fearnley said.

“Ernie is a beast around this course and has won here 10 times and Marcel is the first to win back-to-back majors in a few years, so third behind these two is no disgrace.

“A marathon beats you up until you beg for the finish.”

The Boston event was the opening leg of the Marathon Majors – a series consisting of six the largest and most renowned marathons in the world as well as the World Championships and Paralympic/Olympic Games. The other races included are London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo (2017).

This year marks the 10th year the majors has been conducted for able bodied athletes, but it is the first time wheelchair racers have been included. It is a development which excites Fearnley.

“It’s hard to even imagine the impact this is going to have for the next generation of wheelchair racers,” he said.

“It’s exciting to be part of this one. As far as being included, as far as being a really valued member of the running community, the Marathon Majors are a massive leap forwards.

“We don’t understand yet how big this is for our sport, it’s an exciting time to be a wheelchair racer.”

Fearnley earned nine points for his effort in Boston, with Hug awarded 25 for the win and Van Dyke 16 as runner-up.

More points will be up for grabs this weekend in the London Marathon. It is a race Fearnley won in 2009 and 2013.

“One week is a tight turn around and I’m not getting any younger, so it’ll be another tough hit out,” Fearnley said.

“But it’s the same for everyone. All the guys will be backing up and I’ve just got to recover well over the next few days and go again.

“London is a different course to this one, a lot flatter with plenty of turns.

“There’s a dozen blokes who could win next week and hopefully I can be there at the final bend and have another shot at a win.”