Jeff Clachko was one of 10 Westporters to complete today’s Boston Marathon.
Jeff Clachko
He’s also Vice President, Universal Sports Sales and Marketing for NBC Sports. Moments ago, he was interviewed by Chris Matthews on MSNBC’s “Hardball.”
Jeff described coming down Boylston Street. “I was trying to finish in under 4 hours, so I really sped up,” he said.
Three steps beyond the finish line — he clocked in at 3:58.52 — Jeff heard a loud explosion.
“There’s always lots of noise and music at the finish,” he told Chris Matthews. “But this was different.”
He looked back, and saw smoke rising 20 feet in the air.
Three seconds later, Jeff heard a 2nd explosion.
“Volunteers did an incredible job of ushering runners away from the area,” he said.
Jeff’s wife and 3 sons were watching their father race. They planned to be at the finish line, but got stuck in traffic from Wellesley and were not there.
Jeff did not know that, however. “That was my immediate concern, obviously,” he told MSNBC.
A volunteer offered Jeff a cell phone. Thankfully, he learned, his family was fine.
A shot of MSNBC’s “Hardball,” during Jeff Clachko’s interview.
It took him an hour and a half to make it back to his hotel.
“It’s mayhem,” Jeff reported. “Streets are closed, and there are more fire trucks and ambulances than I’ve ever seen.
“It’s mass confusion all around Boston. No one knows where to go, or what to do.”