FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Hancock Announces Return of Champions to 2017 Boston Marathon
- Atsede Baysa and Lemi Berhanu Hayle Set to Defend Titles on April 17
- Champions Caroline Rotich, Buzunesh Deba, Meb Keflezighi and Wesley
Korir Also Seek Another Win
BOSTON, MA, December 14, 2016 - John Hancock Financial, the principal
sponsor of the Boston Marathon since 1986, today announced the return of
2016 Boston Marathon champions Atsede Baysa and Lemi Berhanu Hayle of
Ethiopia to defend their titles at the 121st running of the race on April
17, 2017.
Additional champions returning to seek another win include Caroline Rotich
of Kenya, Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia, Meb Keflezighi of the United States,
and Wesley Korir of Kenya.
Watch video
This year Ethiopia swept the top podium spots for the first time in race
history. In the women's race, Atsede Baysa, who has run more than 25
global marathons and is a two-time Chicago and Paris Marathon winner,
relied on experience to overcome a 37-second deficit just before mile 22 to
win in commanding style. The win itself was historic, but Baysa's gracious
act of gifting her Champions' Trophy to Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to
unofficially complete the Boston Marathon 50 years ago, after the race was
a highlight for the City of Boston.
"I've run many marathons around the world and winning Boston was a
memorable experience," said Baysa. "I was inspired by the many talented
women who have run this legendary race and I look forward to returning to
the City of Boston again."
In the men's race, Lemi Berhanu Hayle closely cued off two-time champion
Lelisa Desisa with the intention of running strategically, rather than
showcasing his 2:04 marathon speed. The two men broke from a large lead
pack at 16 miles and then led the race side by side for the next nine miles
until Hayle put in a surge that Desisa couldn't cover. The past champion
held on for the runner-up spot, but the olive wreath belonged to the
21-year-old newcomer.
"Winning Boston has been the highlight of my career," said Hayle. "Crossing
the finish line first, after running so far with some of the best runners
in the world, is a wonderful feeling. The fans along the way were
incredible and I can't wait to return to defend my title in April."
Caroline Rotich returns after her dramatic 2015 win where she out-raced
Ethiopians Mare Dibaba and Buzunesh Deba in the final mile. After Deba
faded rounding the historic right on Hereford and left on Boylston, Rotich
and Dibaba raced side-by-side down the finish stretch where Rotich, a
two-time winner of the New York City Half Marathon and past winner of the
Las Vegas and Prague Marathons, found an untapped reserve and prevailed
over Dibaba by four seconds for the win.
Buzunesh Deba will also return to Boston, having earned the 2014 Boston
Marathon crown and course record (2:19:59) following the disqualification
of Rita Jeptoo. During her record setting race, Deba became the only woman
in history to run sub-2:20 on the course. Deba lives in the Bronx with her
husband and coach Worku Beyi and with her Boston win now holds nine U.S.
marathon titles.
After participating in his fourth Olympics, American Meb Keflezighi is back
to celebrate his last year of marathon racing and his fifth Boston
Marathon. Keflezighi outran one of the fastest fields ever assembled in
2014 to become the first U.S. men's champion since 1983. The only runner
from the U.S. to earn an Olympic medal (2004, silver) and win the Boston
and New York City Marathons, Keflezighi is highly regarded by his peers and
will continue to serve as a John Hancock Elite Athlete Ambassador after his
professional marathon career ends at the end of 2017.
"I am excited to announce that I will be running my 25th competitive
marathon at the 2017 Boston Marathon," said Keflezighi. "You come to Boston
to be a part of history and to make history. I look forward to joining the
elite athletes that John Hancock has assembled and the special group of
Boston Qualifiers in the most prestigious marathon in the world."
Wesley Korir also returns to Boston for his fifth showing, after winning in
his 2012 debut in one of the warmest Boston Marathons in race history. As
one of the most consistent marathoners in the world, Korir has never
finished out of the top five in Boston. Korir is a two-time winner of the
Los Angeles Marathon, a graduate of the University of Louisville, and a
Member of Parliament in Kenya.
"When you win the Boston Marathon, you join a legendary list of the world's
greatest runners," said Rob Friedman, head of Sponsorship and Event
Marketing at John Hancock. "We welcome back our defending and past
champions and the tens of thousands of runners who will join them on
Patriots' Day to run the most historic marathon in the world."
"When six athletes who have so richly enhanced the history of the Boston
Marathon are returning to compete again, it's very exciting," said B.A.A.
Chief Executive Officer Tom Grilk. "These are some of the world's finest
runners, and we can't wait to welcome them back."
The 2017 Boston Marathon marks the 32nd year of John Hancock's landmark
sponsorship of the legendary race. The elite American field will be
announced later this month and the complete elite international field will
be announced in January. For additional information about the elite athlete
program and sponsorship, please visit
www.johnhancock.com/bostonmarathon/sportspartnerships.html or follow us
@jhboston26 on Twitter.
About John Hancock Financial and Manulife
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based
financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the
United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as
John Hancock in the United States, the group of companies offers clients a
diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management
services through its extensive network of employees, agents and
distribution partners. Assets under management and administration by
Manulife and its subsidiaries were $966 billion (US $736 billion) as at
September 30, 2016. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the
TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife 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.
###
|
