Oil Patch Bits: ASRC shareholder wins Boston Marathon wheelchair race

Arctic Slope Regional Corp. said April 23 that a fight to the finish paid off for former Alaskan and current shareholder Shirley Reilly, who edged out the defending champion on April 16 to win the Boston Marathon women’s wheelchair race by just one second. It was Reilly’s sixth time competing in the Boston Marathon and set a personal best time of 1:37:36. “We are so proud of Shirley,” said Tara Sweeney, ASRC senior vice president of external affairs. “Her commitment to the sport has been an inspiration, and we just want to congratulate her.”

Being born premature left Reilly paralyzed from the waist down, but that didn’t stop her drive to compete. She graduated from high school in 2003 in Los Gatos, Calif., where she was a part of the school’s track team. Reilly went on to become a member of the 2004, 2008 and 2012 U.S. Paralympic Teams, and credits her success in athletics to hard work, lots of practice and support from friends, family and teammates.

Reilly’s mother Dora is from Barrow and the family visits relatives on the North Slope at least once a year. The 26-year old currently lives and trains in Tucson, Ariz.

Reilly won the 2012 Los Angeles Marathon in mid-May.