Wheelchair Winner Survives Wind and an Accident in Race

Andre Viger of Canada overcame a head wind, slick roads and a crash to win the wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon on Monday for a record third time.

Viger, 34, of Quebec defended his Boston crown in a time of 1:55:42, well off the world record of 1:43:25 he set on the same course a year ago. He became the first male wheelchair racer to win at Boston three times since wheelchairs entered the contest in 1975.

“I’m really happy. It’s been one of the toughest races,” Viger said afterward, mentioning the constant wind and the wet roads.

Finishing second in the men’s wheelchair division at 2:02:36 was Jim Martinson of Puyallup, Wash., who won the race in 1981.

In the women’s division, Candace Cable-Brookes of San Luis Obispo won for a record fifth time in Boston. She finished in 2:19:54.

Trouble struck the wheelchair race shortly after the start. According to several accounts, a chair raced by Jim Knaub of Long Beach hit a small bump in the roadway during a downhill stretch when the chairs were moving about 30 m.p.h. Knaub spilled, causing several other racers to swerve to avoid him.

Those racers in turn upset others and, in seconds, some half dozen contestants, including Viger, were on the ground. Two racers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment of minor injuries.

The others, including Viger, were helped back into their chairs by onlookers. According to race officials, such assistance is allowed to wheelchair racers.