The three Yukoners taking part in Monday's Boston Marathon had all crossed the finish line before two explosions went off there, killing three people and seriously injuring scores more.

Yukon MP Ryan Leef, Keith Thaxter and Kelly Proudfoot all competed in the 117th edition of the historic race through the city.

They were confirmed to have crossed the finish line before the first explosion, which occurred about four hours after the marathon started at 9:30 a.m. The second explosion came just 10 seconds later.

Leef was the first of the three Yukoners to cross the finish line at 1:12 p.m., three hours and 11 minutes after he had started the race.

As he made his way through the finish area, about four blocks from the finish line, emergency personnel were racing "from all directions” towards the finish line.

Back in the House of Commons this morning, Leef, with the unanimous support of all parties, read out a short motion condemning the violence and relaying MPs' sympathies to the victims and their families.

In retrospect, Leef told the Star, it's obvious it was more than a medical emergency that's not uncommon at a marathon.

At the time though, Leef didn't focus on that.

And, with the excitement of half a million screaming fans, he didn't hear the sounds of the explosions.

Given the nature of the event, Leef said, people screaming wouldn't have set off any major alarms for him either.

In fact, it wasn't until he began texting family members and friends to let them know he had finished his 16th marathon that he learned of the tragedy as he continually received messages from colleagues, friends and family wondering if he was OK.

It was then he learned of the tragedy.

Leef noted Thaxter was only seconds behind him, coming in at 1:14 p.m. with a running time of 3:11:58 compared to Leef's 3:11:38, and would have been in the same vicinity as Leef.

The MP noted Proudfoot, who finished at 2:14 p.m. with a time of 3:51:17, was likely a couple of blocks from the finish lined.

An avid runner, Leef said that for many completing the Boston Marathon, it's the accomplishment of a lifetime and is more than simply a race.

"You really totally experience Boston,” he said, noting the very bittersweet nature of the day that saw him complete the race and the tragedy that followed.

The four-hour mark in any marathon denotes a time when many have or are finishing the marathon, Leef said.

What should have been a day to celebrate the accomplishment of a lifetime in an event that brings the entire community together for many runners has turned into a tragedy, he said.

As the Boston Athletic Association stated on its website Monday, "Today is a sad day for the City of Boston, for the running community and for all those who were here to enjoy the 117th running of the Boston Marathon.

"What was intended to be a day of joy and celebration quickly became a day in which running a marathon was of little importance.”

Like so many, Leef said his thoughts are with the victims of the explosions, who include an eight-year-old boy who perished, and their families.

Leef was staying outside the city. While he was able to drive back to Ottawa, he pointed out there are a lot of logistical issues in Boston.

Many, he pointed out, had flown into Boston, and airspace had been shut down Monday following the blasts.

Runners on the course were taken to a community meeting area, and their belongings had to be picked up at a separate area.

For Leef, the event was part of his work at raising awareness about diabetes.

He ran the Victoria marathon last fall for the same cause and is planning a 3,000-kilometre run along the territory's border over the next three summers in three stages to raise awareness.

Leef said in addition to the historical stats of the Boston Marathon, it presented an opportunity for him to get ready for his longer run across the territory.

With Boston being within driving distance from Ottawa, it meant he could drive down to the race and be back in the nation's capital for his duties there today.

Thaxter and Proudfoot could not be reached for comment Monday nor this morning.

Proudfoot's partner, Gordie Tentrees, who was also in Boston with her, Tweeted Monday:

"Kelly crossed finish line ahead of bomb that I watched go off happy to be alive in Boston!!!!!!!”

See related coverage in today's World section.