FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joshua Milne
Sports Marketing PR Specialist
John Hancock Financial Services
Phone: 617-572-3816
JOHN HANCOCK FINANCIAL SERVICES ANNOUNCES
TOP AMERICAN OLYMPIAN TO THE 2006 BOSTON MARATHON
Alan Culpepper, the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion, is Set to Return
BOSTON, MA - January 31, 2006 - John Hancock Financial Services today
announced the return of two-time Olympian Alan Culpepper of Lafayette,
Colorado, for the 110th running of the race scheduled for Monday, April 17,
2006. This is the 21st year that John Hancock is the major sponsor of the
Boston Marathon.
"I had an incredible experience at last year's Boston Marathon, and I am
excited to return in 2006," said Alan Culpepper. "John Hancock, the event
organizers, and the crowds provided the support and environment that
inspired me to return for this year's event. I learned a lot from my
Boston debut and am looking forward to improving upon last year's fourth
place finish."
Recognized as one of the fastest American marathoners of all time,
Culpepper debuted at the distance in Chicago in 2002 and his time of
2:09:41 tied Alberto Salazar's time for the fastest American debut ever.
Culpepper's Boston finish last year was the highest by an American since
Dave Gordon's fourth in 1987.
"We are happy to have last year's top American return to Boston, and we're
looking forward to seeing Alan improve on his performance," said Guy Morse,
Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association. "Thanks to John
Hancock's ongoing support, race fans will again see the best U.S. marathon
runners compete against a competitive international field."
The 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials winner, in only his second marathon, Culpepper
ran to 12th place in the Olympic Marathon. A five-time U.S. National
Champion in track and cross-country, the University of Colorado graduate
has also competed on five World Championship and two Olympic teams. In
2000, he competed in the 10,000m at the Olympics.
Culpepper grew up in El Paso, Texas, and earned five high school state
titles in track and cross-country. He is married to two-time Olympian track
standout Shayne Culpepper, and says the 2004 Olympic experience was a
highlight as both he and his wife (5,000m) won their U.S. Trials to
qualify. Culpepper added that the Olympic Marathon gave him a lot more
confidence in his abilities. "I felt like it opened my eyes to the fact
that I can run on a tough course like Boston, despite being a track
athlete, and be successful."
With Culpepper's commitment to run, the Boston Marathon will bring the top
two U.S. marathoners together. Culpepper joins American Olympic silver
medalist Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi who announced his commitment to run
earlier this month.
Find the latest news and information about the Boston Marathon at
www.marathon.jhancock.com/marathon.
About Manulife Financial and John Hancock
John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading
Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19
countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in
Canada and Asia, and primarily through 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 Cdn$360 billion (US$310 billion) as at
September 30, 2005.
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE,
and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the
Internet at www.manulife.com.
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ALAN CULPEPPER
Lafayette, Colorado, U.S.
AGE: 33 (9/15/72)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:09:41 (Chicago, 2002)
BOSTON MARATHON HISTORY: 4th in 2005 (2:13:39)
In his Boston debut, Culpepper outran two past champions, Timothy Cherigat
and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, to finish fourth in the best performance by
an American since Dave Gordon's fourth in 1987. Culpepper returns to
improve both time and place and enters the race with the fastest American
time.
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
10/09/05 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 12th (2:13:20)
08/29/04 Athens Olympic Marathon 12th (2:15:26)
02/07/04 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, Birmingham 1st (2:11:42)
10/13/02 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 6th (2:09:41)
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
07/22/05 British Grand Prix, London 5,000m 11th (13:25.75)
06/19/03 U.S. National Championships 10,000m 1st (27:55.36)
08/24/03 IAAF World Championships 10,000m, Paris 14th (28:14.92)
02/16/03 U.S. Cross Country 12K Championships 1st (38:22)
06/22/02 U.S. National Championships 5,000m 1st (13:27.52)
07/14/00 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m 2nd (28:03.35)
CAREER NOTES:
Culpepper won the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in only his second marathon and
at the Olympics finished an impressive 12th. In 2005, he finished fourth in
Boston, giving a nod to the progress of American distance runners, and was
the top American finisher in Chicago (12th overall). Debuting at the
distance in 2002, Culpepper tied Alberto Salazar for the fastest American
debut ever.
Culpepper grew up in Texas and was influenced as a high school runner by
the Ethiopian and Kenyan runners who were recruited to nearby University of
Texas at El Paso. He earned five state prep titles in track and
cross-country, but his breakthrough came in 1996 as a senior at the
University of Colorado. There he won the 5,000m NCAA Championships and
placed tenth at the Olympic Trials in the same distance. He is now one of
the top Americans in the sport recording a 10,000m best of 27:33.93 and a
13:25.75 in the 5,000m. A five-time National Champion in track and
cross-country, Culpepper has competed on five World Championship teams and
two Olympic teams: 10,000m in 2000; the marathon in 2004. Track & Field
News ranked him the number two marathoner in the U.S. in 2004 and 2005.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Culpepper is married to two-time Olympian Shayne Culpepper and the couple
has a four-year old son named Cruz. "2006 is an exciting year for our
family as we are expecting our second child in June," Culpepper said. "I am
also thrilled about the state of my running and marathon pursuits. I have
had exceptional training for many years and look forward to applying my
experience and fitness to better my 2005 fourth place finish at this year's
race."
Culpepper says his Olympic experience was a highlight as both he and his
wife won their U.S. Trials to qualify. (Shayne won the 5,000m Trials.)
Culpepper started playing piano when he was a youth and still plays,
although he added the guitar and bass during a college injury to keep busy.
He double majored in geography and sociology at the University of Colorado
and after college decided to make the state his home. He lives and trains
just outside Boulder and is self-coached. He says the Olympics gave him a
lot more confidence in his abilities. "I felt like it opened my eyes to the
fact that I can run on a tough course like Boston, despite being a track
athlete, and be successful."
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