FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elite Athletes From Around The World Invited For
116th Running On April 16 2012
John Hancock Financial Announces
2012 Boston Marathon International Elite Field
34 Elite Athletes From Around The World Invited For 116th Running On April
16 2012 Marks 27th Year Of John Hancock's Landmark Sponsorship Of Boston
Marathon And 150th Anniversary Of Founding Of Company
BOSTON, MA, February 9, 2012-In its 27th year as principal sponsor of the
Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial today announced the elite field for
the 116th running of the Boston Marathon on April 16. A complete field list
follows.
Reigning champions Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel will defend their
titles, but will be challenged by the fastest men's and women's fields ever
assembled for the Boston Marathon. With 31 contenders setting their
personal best time in the past two years, including eight men under 2:07
and ten women under 2:24, the race will prove highly competitive.
Last year Mutai ran an unmatched 2:03:02 World Best on Boston's certified
course, without the aid of pacesetters, and then followed that
accomplishment with a course record win in New York City. Mutai is now the
fastest marathoner in history, and the only man to ever set course records
at Boston and New York in the same year.
Top contenders challenging Mutai include last year's third place finisher
and 2010 New York City champion Gebre Gebremariam, 2010 Boston champion
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, 2011 Amsterdam and Rotterdam winner Wilson
Chebet, and 2011 Chicago second and third place finishers Wesley Korir and
Bernard Kipyego.
Young talent clipping their heels include 2011 Fukuoka champion Josphat
Ndambiri, 2:05 marathoner Levy Matebo, 2011 Amsterdam runner-up Laban
Korir, 2012 Xiamen winner Peter Kamais, 2011 Dubai champion David Barmasai,
and half marathon specialist Mathew Kisorio. Americans Antonio Vega and
Jason Hartmann, Kenyans Frankline Chepkwony and Dickson Chumba, and
Netherlander Michel Butter are also in the elite field.
On the women's side, the historic race in Boston has been decided over the
past four years by three seconds or less. Last year Caroline Kilel turned
in another close race as she traded the lead with American Desiree Davila
several times down the finishing stretch of Boylston Street. Kilel
ultimately triumphed by two seconds over Davila for the 2:22:36 win, before
collapsing in exhaustion.
Chasing Kilel are Kenyan teammates Sharon Cherop and Caroline Rotich.
Cherop and Rotich ran with Kilel through the final miles last year in
Boston before finishing third and fourth respectively. They eagerly await
the rematch.
A strong Ethiopian contingent will also seek the crown. Last year's New
York City winner Firehiwot Dado and runner up Buzunesh Deba team up again
and joining the pair is Aselefech Mergia, the Dubai winner and newly
crowned 2:19:31 national record holder. Also in the mix will be the
talented Mamitu Daska, who won Frankfurt last year, setting a new course
record.
The Boston-New York and Kenyan-Ethiopian rivalries should prove exciting,
but working to break up the leaders will be a top Russian team: Galina
Bogomolova, Alevtina Biktimirova, Nadezdha Leonteva and 2010 Boston
runner-up Tatyana Pushkareva will work together to return the coveted title
to Russia. Additional talent includes 2006 Boston Marathon champion Rita
Jeptoo, Ashu Kasim, Agnes Kiprop, Georgina Rono, Diana Sigei, and Genet
Getaneh.
"For 27 years, John Hancock, as principal sponsor, has honored its
commitment to bring the world's top runners to the historic Boston Marathon
to ensure that it remains among the world's most premier sporting events,"
said Rob Friedman, head of Sponsorship and Event Marketing at John Hancock.
"In celebration of our 150th anniversary as a company, this year's field is
faster and more competitive than ever before. We know these talented
runners will provide the millions of fans around the world with another
spectacular race, and we are counting down the days to April 16th."
"One of the cornerstones of any top marathon in the world is the elite
field. Through the superb collaborative efforts with our long-standing
partner, John Hancock, and its recruitment excellence over the past 27
years, the Boston Marathon has continued to thrive on fast times and a true
competitive nature," said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. "John
Hancock's sponsorship of our elite runners in this year's event will no
doubt once again inspire all those associated with the race. It is a model
partnership that works extraordinarily well for everyone."
About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a
leading Canada-based financial services group serving millions of customers
in 21 countries and territories worldwide. In 2012, John Hancock celebrates
150 years of serving clients across the United States, while Manulife
celebrates its 125th anniversary. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada
and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States,
Manulife Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial
protection products and wealth management services through its extensive
network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under
management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$492 billion
(US$473 billion) as at September 30, 2011. Manulife Financial Corporation
trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK.
Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.
The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of
the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad
range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed
and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans,
long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business
insurance.
Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.
MEN
Name (Country) Personal Best
Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) 2:03:02 (Boston, 2011) CR, WB
Gebre Gebremariam (Ethiopia) 2:04:53 (Boston, 2011)
Levy Matebo (Kenya) 2:05:16 (Frankfurt, 2011)
Wilson Chebet (Kenya) 2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011)
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (Kenya) 2:05:52 (Boston, 2010)
Laban Korir (Kenya) 2:06:05 (Amsterdam, 2011)
Wesley Korir (Kenya) 2:06:15 (Chicago, 2011)
Bernard Kipyego (Kenya) 2:06:29 (Chicago, 2011)
David Barmasai (Kenya) 2:07:18 (Dubai, 2011)
Dickson Chumba (Kenya) 2:07:23 (Frankfurt, 2011)
Josphat Ndambiri (Kenya) 2:07:36 (Fukuoka, 2011)
Peter Kamais (Kenya) 2:07:37 (Xiamen, 2012) CR
Mathew Kisorio (Kenya) 2:10:58 (New York, 2011)
Frankline Chepkwony (Kenya) 2:10:59 (Nairobi, 2011)
Jason Hartmann (USA) 2:11:06 (Chicago, 2010)
Michel Butter (Netherlands) 2:12:59 (Amsterdam, 2011)
Antonio Vega (USA) 2:13:47 (Boston, 2010)
WOMEN
Name (Country) Personal Best
Aselefech Mergia (Ethiopia) 2:19:31 (Dubai, 2012) CR, NR
Galina Bogomolova (Russia) 2:20:47 (Chicago, 2006)
Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia) 2:21:59 (Frankfurt, 2011) CR
Caroline Kilel (Kenya) 2:22:36 (Boston, 2011)
Sharon Cherop (Kenya) 2:22:42 (Boston, 2011)
Ashu Kasim (Ethiopia) 2:23:09 (Xiamen, 2012)
Firehiwot Dado (Ethiopia) 2:23:15 (New York City, 2011)
Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) 2:23:19 (New York City, 2011)
Rita Jeptoo (Kenya) 2:23:38 (Boston, 2006)
Agnes Kiprop (Kenya) 2:23:54 (Frankfurt, 2011)
Caroline Rotich (Kenya) 2:24:26 (Boston, 2011)
Georgina Rono (Kenya) 2:24:33 (Eindhoven, 2011) CR
Alevtina Biktimirova (Russia) 2:25:12 (Frankfurt, 2005)
Genet Getaneh (Ethiopia) 2:25:57 (Amsterdam, 2011)
Tatyana Pushkareva (Russia) 2:26:14 (Boston, 2010)
Diana Sigei (Kenya) 2:26:53 (Dubai, 2011)
Nadezdha Leonteva (Russia) 2:31:57 (Moscow, 2011)
CR=Course Record
WB=World Best
NR=National Record
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