Melrose's 2021 Boston Marathon Runners: Meet All 24 Athletes

MELROSE, MA — Two dozen Melrose runners will take part in a Boston Marathon like no other.

The city has 24 representatives in the Oct. 11 race, which is being held more than 900 days after the last Boston Marathon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can see the list of local men and women running below. Five of the runners participated in the 2019 Boston Marathon — the last time the race was run. Their 2019 times are noted below.

Are you on the list? Patch wants to know why you're running this year. Email mike.carraggi@patch.com and tell me your story!

Men

• Matthew Anderson, 37
• Mike Brucklier, 45
• Michael Clark, 35
• Jeffrey Cook, 55
• Bob Cosman, 67
• Roger Donaghy, 43 (2:40:33)
• Kenny Giordano, 61 (5:45:00)
• John Grimes, 55
• Bilal Ozaslan, 51
• Anthony Pappalardo, 45
• Michael Plumer, 45 (6:12:55)
• David Sharkey, 26
• Michael Sikkema, 52 (3:13:17)
• Nate Witkowski, 30
• Robert Worful, 45 (2:53:03)

Women

• Kathleen Carney, 26
• Maria Cavero, 45
• Alexandra Francis, 29
• Erin Haynes, 28
• Noelle Kaelblein, 31
• Andrea McCollem, 34
• Kasie Patel, 34
• Andrea Perlla, 48
• Olivia Smith, 23

Patch is covering the Boston Marathon before, during and after the race. Sign up for our free newsletter to get the latest.

The Boston Marathon is being run in October for the first time after being postponed and ultimately canceled in 2020 and delayed this year. Race officials said the marathon will return back to its traditional Patriots Day date beginning next year.

Runners this year will not be required to wear a mask while racing, but they will need to wear them on buses to and from the race. Masks will also be required and provided in all medical tents along the 26.2-mile route.

Runners — and everyone else — will need to wear masks indoors as part of Boston's indoor mask mandate. That includes the Boston Marathon Expo at the Hynes Convention Center in the three days leading up to the race.

Volunteers who will have direct interaction or close proximity with the runners must wear masks. Some will be provided additional personal protective equipment.

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