FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thirty-Two Elite Athletes from Around the World, Including the Women's
World Record Holder, Assembled for Running of 106th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, April 2 -- In its 17th year as principal
sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock announced its elite team of
international marathon runners today, including the men's and women's
defending champions, Olympian Lee Bong-Ju of Korea and world marathon record
holder Catherine Ndereba of Kenya.
The outstanding quality of this year's field of 32 Olympic, world, and
nationally ranked runners from 14 nations ensures a competitive and exciting
race on April 15.
In the men's field, Lee Bong-Ju will seek to defend his title against
many of the fastest marathoners in the world. Top ranked Kenyan Fred
Kiprop will lead the challenge as will 2001 runner-up Silvio Guerra of
Ecuador and last year's third-place finisher Joshua Chelang'a. Close on
their heels will be Noriaki Igarashi of Japan, Simon Bor of Kenya, Andres
Espinosa of Mexico, and world-record holders Rodgers Rop and Peter Githuka.
American Olympian Mark Coogan and 2001 Chicago Marathon winner Ben Kimondiu
are in the field as is Josh Cox, the second American finisher last year.
These seasoned runners will face tough opposition from additional athletes
out of South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Venezuela.
On the women's side, two-time champion Catherine Ndereba brings the
fastest marathon time ever run by a woman to the race. Challenging Ndereba
are Olympian Esther Wanjiru and 2001 New York City Marathon and San Diego
Rock 'N' Roll Marathon champion Margaret Okayo. Focusing on the trio will
be eight world ranked marathoners, including Olympian Elfenesh Alemu of
Ethiopia and last year's runner-up Malgorzata Sobanska of Poland. Also in
the lead group is Romanian Nuta Olaru and Jill Gaitenby, the top American
finisher last year. In addition to running on Patriot's Day, the athletes
are part of the John Hancock Running and Fitness Clinic staff. Since the
program's inception in 1986, athletes have visited more than 79,000 school
children across the country to promote the benefits of a healthy, active
lifestyle.
Speaking for the athletes, Catherine Ndereba said, "We're proud to be
part of John Hancock programs teaching children about health and fitness.
We also thank the company for inviting such a talented group of athletes
from around the world to the race. Such representation points to the
encompassing reach of the world's oldest annually held marathon."
The men's elite field includes Korean Lee Bong-Ju, Noriaki Igarashi of
Japan, Ecuadorian Silvio Guerra, Venezuelan Luis Fonseca and top Americans
Mark Coogan and Josh Cox. Challenging them is a nine-member Kenyan team of
Fred Kiprop, Peter Githuka, Simon Bor, Ben Kimondiu, Joshua Chelang'a,
Rodgers Rop, David Kiptum Busienei, Mbarak Hussein, and Christopher
Cheboiboch. The strong South African team of Makhosonke Fika, Laban Nkete,
Abner Chipu and Motsehi Moeketsana will compete, as will Mexican Andres
Espinosa, holder of the second-fastest time ever run at Boston, and
Ethiopian Getachew Kebede. The fastest American of 2001, Rod DeHaven, and
top U.S. marathoner Air Force Captain Eric Mack withdrew from the race due
to injuries.
Athletes in the women's elite field include two-time winner Catherine
Ndereba of Kenya and teammates Esther Wanjiru and Margaret Okayo.
Challenging the top trio are Ethiopian Elfenesh Alemu, Romanian Nuta Olaru,
Russian Irina Timofeyeva, Sun Yingjie of China, and Malgorzata Sobanska of
Poland. Also competing are top American Jill Gaitenby, Ari Ichihashi of
Japan, and Bruna Genovese of Italy.
John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: JHF) and its affiliated
companies provide a broad array of insurance and investment products and
services to retail and institutional customers. As of December 31, 2001,
John Hancock and its subsidiaries had total assets under management of
$124.2 billion.
106th BOSTON MARATHON
JOHN HANCOCK'S 2002 ELITE ATHLETE FIELD
Men's Open Field Personal Best
Fred Kiprop, Kenya 2:06:47 (Amsterdam, 1999)
Andres Espinosa, Mexico 2:07:19 (Boston, 1994)
Lee Bong-Ju, Korea 2:07:20 (Tokyo, 2000)
Peter Githuka, Kenya 2:08:02 (Chicago, 2000)
Simon Bor, Kenya 2:08:47 (Amsterdam, 1998)
Ben Kimondiu, Kenya 2:08:52 (Chicago, 2001)
Noriaki Igarashi, Japan 2:09:26 (Fukuoka, 2000)
Silvio Guerra, Ecuador 2:09:49 (Chicago, 1997)
Rodgers Rop, Kenya 2:09:51 (New York, 2001)
Joshua Chelang'a, Kenya 2:10:29 (Boston, 2001)
David Kiptum Busienei, Kenya 2:10:38 (Amsterdam, 2000)
Makhosonke Fika, S. Africa 2:10:39 (Paris, 1999)
Mbarak Hussein, Kenya 2:10:45 (San Diego, 1999)
Christopher Cheboiboch, Kenya 2:10:50 (Venice, 2000)
Laban Nkete, S. Africa 2:12:30 (Boston, 2000)
Abner Chipu, S. Africa 2:12:45 (Boston, 1999)
Motsehi Moeketsana, S. Africa 2:12:47 (Berlin, 2000)
Luis Fonseca, Venezuela 2:12:59 (Cleveland, 2001)
Mark Coogan, United States 2:13:05 (Charlotte, 1996)
Getachew Kebede, Ethiopia 2:13:37 (San Diego, 2001)
Josh Cox, United States 2:13:55 (Chicago, 2000)
Women's Open Field Personal Best
Catherine Ndereba, Kenya 2:18:47 (Chicago, 2001)
Esther Wanjiru Maina, Kenya 2:23:31 (Osaka, 2000)
Margaret Okayo, Kenya 2:24:21 (New York, 2001)
Elfenesh Alemu, Ethiopian 2:24:29 (London, 2001)
Nuta Olaru, Romania 2:25:18 (London, 2001)
Irina Timofeyeva, Russia 2:25:29 (Tokyo, 2001)
Bruna Genovese, Italy 2:25:35 (Tokyo, 2001)
Sun Yingjie, China 2:25:45 (Tianjin, 1998)
Malgorzata Sobanska, Poland 2:26:08 (Chicago, 2001)
Ari Ichihashi, Japan 2:27:02 (Seville, 1999)
Jill Gaitenby, United States 2:36:45 (Boston, 2001)
http://www.bostonmarathon.org
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