FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Hancock Financial Announces Elite Field Changes for the
2014 Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MA, March 3, 2014-John Hancock Financial today announced John
Hancock Elite Athlete Team changes for the for the 118th running of the
Boston Marathon on April 21, 2014.
Additions to the elite men's field include U.S. Olympians Ryan Hall and
Abdi Abdirahman and Kenyan elite Mathew Bowen. Withdrawals to the elite
men's field include Kenyan elite Moses Mosop, U.S. Olympian Dathan
Ritzenhein and Australian Olympian Jeffrey Hunt.
Additions:
-Ryan Hall recorded the fastest marathon by an American of all time
with his 2:04:58 fourth-place finish at the 2011 Boston Marathon. He has
run Boston three times, finishing third in 2009, and fourth in both 2010
and 2011. Hall was first at the 2007 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, in an
event record, and went on to place 10th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic
Marathon. At the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, he finished second.
Hall is the American record holder in the 20K, the 30K and the half
marathon, where his 59:43 marked the first time an American had ever broken
the one-hour barrier.
"I am incredibly excited to participate in this year's Boston Marathon,"
says Hall. "After watching the tragic events that unfolded at last year's
race and knowing the resilience of both the running and Boston communities,
I knew this year's race was going to be a run of redemption that I am eager
to be a part of. This year's race will undoubtedly be the most historically
significant marathon in Boston's storied history."
-Abdi Abdirahman finished third at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials
Marathon to qualify for his fourth Olympic team. He has finished top five
at both the Chicago and New York City Marathons. In the 10,000m, he is a
four-time U.S. National Champion and competed in that event at the Olympics
in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Abdirahman has won additional national titles in
the 10K, the 10-mile, the 20K, and the half marathon. His personal best
time in the marathon is 2:08:56.
"It has been a dream of mine to run the Boston Marathon," says Abdirahman.
"There is so much history behind the race and I'm glad to be to be part of
it this year."
-Mathew Bowen is new to the marathon distance having recently
recorded a 2:10:57 at the Rennes Marathon in France. He is married to 2012
Boston Marathon champion Sharon Cherop, who will also compete in this
year's Boston Marathon. The couple train together in the Rift Valley of
Kenya.
Withdrawals:
-Moses Mosop
"I am sorry I can't compete in the Boston Marathon this year," says Mosop.
"Boston has a special place in my heart and deserves my best. Due to a knee
injury my training has suffered and I am not at the top of my game, yet. I
hope to join the Boston Marathon next year, as watching this race is not
what I am about."
-Dathan Ritzenhein
"I am very disappointed to withdraw from this year's Boston Marathon,"
says Ritzenhein. "A groin injury this winter has kept me from doing the
training it takes to run with the best in the world. April 21st will be a
show of strength and community after last year's events and I wanted so
badly to be part of that. But I am resilient and will be back."
-Jeffrey Hunt ran Boston last year and finished eighth. His
preparation for this year's race has not proceeded as planned due to a few
setbacks. Hunt says he looks forward to racing in Boston in future years.
There have been no changes to the women's elite field. An updated field
list follows.
2014 John Hancock Elite Athlete Team
118th Boston Marathon April 21, 2014
WOMEN Personal Best Time Country
Mare Dibaba 2:19:52 (Dubai, 2012) Ethiopia
Rita Jeptoo 2:19:57 (Chicago, 2013) Kenya
Jemima Jelagat Sumgong 2:20:48 (Chicago, 2013) Kenya
Meseret Hailu 2:21:09 (Amsterdam, 2012) CR Ethiopia
Eunice Kirwa 2:21:41 (Amsterdam, 2012) Kenya
Sharon Cherop 2:22:28 (Berlin, 2013) Kenya
Caroline Kilel 2:22:34 (Frankfurt, 2013) Kenya
Desiree Linden 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011) USA
Flomena Chepchichir 2:23:00 (Frankfurt, 2013) Kenya
Buzunesh Deba 2:23:19 (New York, 2011) Ethiopia
Tatiana Petrova Arkhipova 2:23:29 (London, 2012) Russia
Aleksandra Duliba 2:23:44 (Chicago, 2013) NR Belarus
Yeshi Esayias 2:24:06 (Frankfurt, 2013) Ethiopia
Philes Ongori 2:24:20 (Rotterdam, 2011) Kenya
Belaynesh Oljira 2:25:01 (Dubai, 2013) Ethiopia
Shalane Flanagan 2:25:38 (Houston, 2012) USA
Yolanda Caballero 2:26:17 (Boston, 2011) Colombia
Amy Hastings 2:27:03 (Los Angeles, 2011) USA
Lanni Marchant 2:28:00 (Toronto, 2013) Canada
Serena Burla 2:28:01 (Amsterdam, 2013) USA
Noriko Higuchi 2:28:49 (Tokyo, 2011) Japan
Adriana Nelson 2:28:52 (London, 2008) USA
Adriana Aparecida da Silva 2:29:17 (Tokyo, 2012) Brazil
MEN Personal Best Time Country
Dennis Kimetto 2:03:45 (Chicago 2013) CR Kenya
Lelisa Desisa 2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013) Ethiopia
Gebre Gebremariam 2:04:53 (Boston, 2011) Ethiopia
Markos Geneti 2:04:54 (Dubai, 2012) Ethiopia
Ryan Hall 2:04:58 (Boston, 2011) USA
Wilson Chebet 2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011) Kenya
Tilahun Regassa 2:05:27 (Chicago, 2012) Ethiopia
Shami Dawud 2:05:42 (Dubai, 2012) Ethiopia
Eric Ndiema 2:06:07 (Amsterdam, 2011) Kenya
Frankline Chepkwony 2:06:11 (Eindhoven, 2012) Kenya
Micah Kogo 2:06:56 (Chicago, 2013) Kenya
Adil Annani 2:07:43 (London, 2012) Morocco
Paul Lonyangata 2:07:44 (Xiamen, 2013) Kenya
Joel Kimurer 2:07:48 (Gongju, 2013) Kenya
Lusapho April 2:08:32 (Hannover, 2013) CR South Africa
Abdi Abdirahman 2:08:56 (Chicago, 2006) USA
Mebrahtom Keflezighi 2:09:08 (Houston, 2012) USA
Brett Gotcher 2:10:36 (Houston, 2010) USA
Mathew Bowen 2:10:57 (Rennes, 2013) Kenya
Jason Hartmann 2:11:06 (Chicago 2010) USA
Nicholas Arciniaga 2:11:30 (Houston, 2011) USA
Vitaliy Shafar 2:11:52 (Frankfurt, 2013) Ukraine
Jeffrey Eggleston 2:12:03 (Chicago, 2012) USA
About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife Financial, a leading
Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia,
Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and
Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the Company
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$599 billion (US$563 billion) as at December 31, 2013.
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 and
administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance,
annuities, investments, 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.
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