Boston blasts: Don't let terror stop racing, says 1986 winner

BRISBANE (AP) - Former champion Robert de Castella has said race organisers around the world should not "kowtow" to terrorist threats by scaling back events in the wake of bomb blasts on Monday which killed three people and injured more than 100 at the Boston Marathon.

Mr De Castella, an Australian who won the 1986 Boston title, was close to the finishing area on Monday waiting for one of his athletes when the explosions occurred.

He told Australian media: "The last thing we should do is kowtow to this sort of coward action."

Gold Coast Marathon general manager Cameron Hart said while local organisers have a rigid plan for July's race, expected to attract 30,000 competitors in Australia's Queensland state, "none of us are immune to the horror that happened in Boston today".

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