April 18, 2005

BOSTON - Gonzaga University's Kevin Swaim and Kyle Pifer had respectable showings in their inaugural Boston Marathon on Monday, the 109th running of this country's oldest such race.

Swaim, the cross country/track coach for the Bulldogs, finished the 40K course in an official time of 3:17:08 and a net time of 3:16:52. Pifer, a graduate assistant in compliance, ran an official time of 3:25:49 and a net time of 3:23:41.

Swaim finished 1,868 overall, 1,734 in the male divison and 454 in the master's division. His pace was 7:31. Pifer placed 2,828 overall, 2,579 in the male division and 1,641 in the 18-39 open male division. Pifer's pace was 7:46. Both were running their fourth career marathon.

Swaim, who was aiming for a time of 2:45, qualified last October at the Portland Marathon while Pifer, whose goal was to finish in three hours or less, qualified in November, 2003, at the Seattle Marathon.