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Americans sweep handcycling titles at Boston Marathon
PA native Zachary Stinson and New England resident Edie Perkins won the men’s and women’s handcycling titles, respectively. Canada’s May Lim and Julien Pinsonneault won the duo division.
Americans dominated the handcycling division at this year’s Boston Marathon.
In the men’s race, 36-year-old Zachary Stinson captured his fourth Boston title, finishing in 1:04:05.
While short of his 2024 winning time of 1:02:12, Stinson significantly improved from his 2023 mark of 1:11:51.
In last year’s race, 55-year-old Alfredo de los Santos claimed first, with Stinson finishing right behind.
Boston Marathon:
This year, Bryan Lara of Virginia came in second, followed by Dustin Baker of North Carolina in third.
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Stinson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 17, according to a biography he wrote posted on his Instagram.
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In early 2010, he moved to North Carolina and was deployed to Afghanistan. Four months into his deployment, Stinson stepped on an improvised explosive device, losing both legs above the knee.
He medically retired in 2013, according to the U.S. Navy Memorial.
Stinson began competing in 2012, starting with the Marine Corps Marathon. He transitioned to paratriathlon in 2019 and has focused exclusively on paracycling since June 2023.
“I find purpose in inspiring someone else to make each day count and find the value in themselves and motivation to keep pushing through what life serves them,” Stinson wrote in his biography.
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In the women’s race, 47-year-old Edie Perkins led the pack, finishing first at 1:40:19. She improved on her second-place finish last year at 1:42:57.
A longtime cyclist, Perkins was paralyzed from the chest down following an accident in 2017. Since relocating to Vermont in 2021, she has embraced handcycling on scenic trails and become an advocate for accessible outdoor recreation, according to the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council.
Perkins dominated the race by finishing well ahead of the field. Devann Murphy of New York claimed second place, crossing the line nine minutes later.
Canada’s May Lim and Julien Pinsonneault won the duo division at 2:47:24. The pair had won in 2024 with a time of 2:54:43. Pinsonneault is the Guinness World Record holder for fastest half marathon pushing a wheelchair.
Shaun and Shamus Evans, from New York, finished second. The father-son duo finished first in last year’s race.
Shamus Evans was born with cerebral palsy — but that didn’t stop his dad from including him on runs. The pair have been competing since 2013.
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