FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
112th Boston Marathon to Honor Past Champions
Local Dignitaries to Take Part in Weekend's Festivities
BOSTON, Mass. – A number of Boston Marathon legends and Massachusetts
dignitaries will be taking part in the festivities surrounding the 112th
running of the world's oldest annual marathon.
Patriots' Award
On Thursday, April 17, Mike Andrews, Chairman and Executive Director of the
Jimmy Fund, and a member of the 1967 Boston Red Sox "Impossible Dream" team
will be presented with the 2008 Patriots' Award. Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute and its Jimmy Fund have collaborated with the Boston Athletic
Association on a number of initiatives. This year 550 runners are expected
to raise $4.5 million by running the Boston Marathon as a part of the
Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. In September, more than 7,000 walkers will
take part in the Jimmy Fund Marathon Walk, and expect to raise $7 million.
Then in October, Dana-Farber will once again be the presenting sponsor of
the B.A.A. Half Marathon.
The Patriots' Award, established in 2002, is awarded annually to a New
England-based individual, group, or organization that is patriotic,
philanthropic, inspirational, and fosters goodwill and sportsmanship. Past
winners include Robert and Myra Kraft and the New England Patriots (2002);
Red Auerbach and the Red Auerbach Youth Foundation (2003); Ron Burton and
the Ron Burton Training Village (2004); the Boston Red Sox Foundation
(2005); Rick and Dick Hoyt (2006); and Joan Samuelson (2007).
Fenway Park, First Pitch
On Sunday, April 20, 1983 Boston Marathon champion Greg Meyer will throw
out the first pitch at Fenway Park before the Boston Red Sox play the Texas
Rangers. Meyer is the last American man to win the Boston Marathon, and
will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of his victory by running the
112th Boston Marathon the next day. The game will begin at 1:35 p.m.
Official Starter, Wheelchair Division
John Kerry, Senator (D) from Massachusetts will be the official starter of
the wheelchair division. The start will take place at 9:25 a.m., on Monday,
April 21.
Official Starter, Elite Women's Start
Two-time Boston Marathon champion and 1984 Olympic gold medalist Joan
Samuelson will start the Elite Women's race at 9:35 a.m. Samuelson will be
competing one day earlier in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's
Marathon.
Official Starter, Elite Men's Race & Wave One of the Boston Marathon
Starting Wave One of the race, which includes the elite men, will be Walter
Brown. Members of the Brown family have been starting the Boston Marathon
for more than a century. A statue in honor of George V. Brown, who started
the race from 1905-1937, was unveiled in Hopkinton on April 13.
Grand Marshals
Top finishers from the previous day's 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's
Marathon will serve as the official Grand Marshals of the 112th Boston
Marathon.
Participants
In addition to the numerous past champions being honored this year, many
are also competing. Past Boston Marathon champions entered in this year's
race are:
Entrant Boston Victories Bib #
Men
Keizo Yamada 1953 #1953
Amby Burfoot 1968 #1968
Greg Meyer 1983 #1983
Robert Cheruiyot 2003, 2006, 2007 #1
Timothy Cherigat 2004 #10
Women
Rita Jeptoo 2006 #F4
Lidiya Grigoryeva 2007 #F1
Men's Wheelchair
Ernst Van Dyk 2001-2006 #W2
Masazumi Soejima 2007 #W1
Women's Wheelchair
Cheri Blauwet 2004, 2005 #W103
Wakako Tsuchida 2007 #W101
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