FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Hancock and the Boston Athletic Association Announce Return
of 16 Champions for 2020 Boston Marathon
- Lawrence Cherono, Worknesh Degefa, Manuela Schär and Daniel Romanchuk
set to defend their titles on April 20, 2020
- 12 Additional Champions aim to return to the top of the podium
- 2018 Boston Champion Desiree Linden to Run the U.S. Olympic Trials
Marathon and the Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MA, December 17, 2019 - John Hancock and the Boston Athletic
Association today announced the return of 2019 Boston Marathon open
champions Lawrence Cherono and Worknesh Degefa and wheelchair champions
Manuela Schär and Daniel Romanchuk for the 124th running of the race on
April 20, 2020.
Twelve additional champions will also seek another win: open champions
Desiree Linden, Yuki Kawauchi, Edna Kiplagat, Geoffrey Kirui, Lelisa
Desisa, Caroline Rotich; and wheelchair champions Tatyana McFadden, Marcel
Hug, Ernst van Dyk, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Joshua Cassidy and Masazumi Soejima.
Linden will run both the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon on February 29
and the Boston Marathon on April 20, while two-time champion Desisa returns
as reigning World Athletics Marathon Champion.
"In our 35th year as principal sponsor of this historic race, we are
excited to welcome back our accomplished champions," said John Hancock
Chief Marketing Officer Barbara Goose. "Their return is a testimony to the
tradition and legacy that is the Boston Marathon. These champions are not
just racing each other, they are chasing history. On Patriots' Day we will
cheer for all as they persevere with determination to cross the finish line
and become part of our city. Welcome to Boston."
"The race for the tape on Patriots' Day will surely be both competitive and
compelling, as John Hancock has fielded a tremendous team of champions,"
said Tom Grilk, Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A. "With 16 returning
champions, the roads leading to Boston will be filled with many of the most
decorated runners and wheelchair racers in history. Another memorable
chapter in Boston Marathon history will surely unfold on April 20."
Watch the Returning Champions Video.
Athlete Quotes
Lawrence Cherono: Winner of the 2019 Boston Marathon by two-seconds over
two-time champion Lelisa Desisa, Cherono has won eight marathons, including
a win at the 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and wins in Amsterdam
and Honolulu.
"I am happy to return to the Boston Marathon to defend my title. Boston
will have a special place in my memories forever," said Cherono. "I loved
every mile of this race and fought until the end to achieve the first place
and become part of the elite family to have won the most prestigious race
of the world. I look forward to being at the start line of the 2020
edition."
Worknesh Degefa: Champion of the 2019 Boston Marathon and the 2017 Dubai
Marathon, Degefa holds the Ethiopian National Record in the marathon. Last
year she won by 42 seconds.
"I am so happy to accept the invitation from John Hancock to return to
Boston next year as the defending champion of this historic race," said
Degefa. "I could see first-hand how special the city of Boston, all the
towns along the course, and the community is to so many people. And of
course, I look forward to the challenge next April of once again racing
against the world's best athletes. I can't wait to return to defend my
title in April."
Manuela Schär: The course record holder (1:28:17) and reigning champion,
Schär returns looking for her third Boston victory. Schär won the Abbott
World Marathon Majors Series XII title in 2019.
"I am very excited to return to Boston. Next year is going to be a very
special and exciting year with Tokyo 2020 coming up and every single race
is going to be a test and an assessment," said Schär.
Daniel Romanchuk: Romanchuk made race history in 2019, becoming the
youngest men's wheelchair winner in race history at the age of 20. He
earned America's first win in the division since 1993, breaking the tape in
1:21:36 last year.
"Winning Boston last year was a life-changing event, and I can't wait to
return to defend my title," said Romanchuk. "I'm sure the field will be
well-prepared to battle it out again, so the race should be an exciting one
to watch unfold. I hope we can give the amazing Boston crowds a great
race!"
Desiree Linden: A two-time U.S. Olympian and winner of the 2018 Boston
Marathon, Linden has placed top-five in nine Abbott World Marathon Majors.
She will race in both the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and 2020 Boston
Marathon.
"I'm ecstatic to have another opportunity to line up at the Boston Marathon
as part of the John Hancock Elite Team. At this point in my career I enter
each race with a heightened sense of urgency and have become very selective
in what races I'm willing to commit my time and energy to," said Linden.
"The Boston Marathon has always been the most motivating race on my
schedule; I'm grateful that in an Olympic year John Hancock is supportive
of me competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials as well. I hope to stand on the
start line in Hopkinton as the first U.S. Woman to have made three Olympic
Marathon teams."
John Hancock Elite Team
Open Champions Country Personal Best Time
Lawrence Cherono Kenya 2:04:06 (Amsterdam, 2018) CR
Lelisa Desisa Ethiopia 2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013)
Geoffrey Kirui Kenya 2:06:27 (Amsterdam, 2016)
Yuki Kawauchi Japan 2:08:14 (Seoul, 2013)
Worknesh Degefa Ethiopia 2:17:41 (Dubai, 2019) NR
Edna Kiplagat Kenya 2:19:50 (London, 2012)
Desiree Linden U.S.A. 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)
Caroline Rotich Kenya 2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)
B.A.A. Wheelchair Champions Country Personal Best Time
Marcel Hug Switzerland 1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)
Ernst van Dyk South Africa 1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)
Joshua Cassidy Canada 1:18:25 (Boston, 2012)
Masazumi Soejima Japan 1:18:50 (Boston, 2011)
Hiroyuki Yamamoto Japan 1:19:32 (Boston, 2017)
Daniel Romanchuk U.S.A. 1:21:36 (Boston, 2019)
Manuela Schär Switzerland 1:28:17 (Boston, 2017)
Tatyana McFadden U.S.A. 1:31:30 (Duluth, 2019)
Additional elite field announcements will roll out over the next few
months. For more information about the elite athlete program and
sponsorship, please visit: John Hancock
About John Hancock and Manulife
John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading
international financial services group that helps people make their
decisions easier and lives better. We operate primarily as John Hancock in
the United States, and Manulife globally, including Canada, Asia and
Europe. We provide financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset
management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. Assets under
management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were over
CAD$1.2 trillion (US$$881 billion) as of September 30, 2019. Manulife
Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under
945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.
One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock
supports more than 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial
products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans,
and college savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be
found at johnhancock.com.
###
|
