One-time HS hoop sensation Jason McElwain completes Boston Marathon
There are many amazing stories in this year's Boston Marathon. One that doesn't spin out of last year's tragic bombings involves Jason McElwain, who eight years ago captured the eyes and feelings of the nation by scoring 20 points in his only basketball game.
McElwain is autistic. That night eight years ago he stepped on the court for the Greece Athena varsity and shot out the lights. Check out that effort here:
Fast forward to 2014, and McElwain is a runner. He ran two Rochester Marathons, finishing both in just more than three hours. It was time to tackle a big one: the Boston Marathon.
His times qualified him for Boston, yet he had to be accepted into the field.
"It was a nerve-wracking week," McElwain told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. "I came home from work and read the acceptance email and tears just went through the keyboard."
He had a goal: "I'd like to go under 3:10," the 26-year-old told the newspaper. "The biggest thing is to just finish and get that medal. I want to have fun with it, give it all I got. I'm going to eat a lot of pasta and just run. I can't believe it's here."
"Well, I'm not just representing Greece Athena and Rochester and my family, I'm representing the victims of the bombing just like all the runners are," Jason said. "It will make it feel bittersweet."
