FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Carmichael
617-663-4748
John Hancock Financial Services Announces World's Top Three Women
To Run 2007 Boston Marathon
American Record Holder and Olympian Deena Kastor Is Set To Compete
Against Reigning Boston Champion Rita Jeptoo And
World Marathon Majors Leader Jelena Prokopcuka
BOSTON, MA, January 23, 2007-In its 22nd year as the major sponsor of the
Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial Services announced the entry of the
world's top three ranked women marathoners for the 111th running of the
race on April 16. Olympian and American Record Holder Deena Kastor is set
to compete against returning Boston Champion Rita Jeptoo and World Marathon
Majors Leader Jelena Prokopcuka.
American Deena Kastor leads the charge and comes into the race having run
the fastest marathon in the world last year. She earned the #1 ranking by
Track & Field News for her unstoppable 2:19:36 win in London, where she
also improved her existing American record.
Best known for her inspirational bronze medal performance in the 2004
Athens Olympic Marathon, Kastor is a former world record holder in the 5K,
a two-time silver medalist at the World Cross Country Championships, and
the 2005 Chicago Marathon champion. She is also a multiple American record
holder on the roads and track, has won 18 national titles, and is an
eight-time NCAA All-American.
"Five and a half years after my first marathon, I am finally running
Boston," says Kastor. "Tradition, sponsors and fans make this the greatest
and most well respected marathon in the world. It is an honor to be a part
of Boston this year and it is my greatest desire to win this prestigious
event."
Kastor, who lives in California but has roots in the Boston area, added "I
am hoping the crowds will be especially loud as I pass the Newton-Wellesley
Hospital as that is where I was born 34 years ago."
Along with signing Kastor, John Hancock announced they have also secured
2006 Boston Champion Rita Jeptoo of Kenya to return and defend her title.
Only 25 years old, Jeptoo is a rising star in the sport and brings strong
credentials to the race. Winning the first two marathons she entered in
Milan and Stockholm, Jeptoo then placed seventh at the 2005 World
Championships. After her Boston Marathon win last year, she ran the fourth
fastest 20K of all time and then went on to finish a strong fourth in the
New York City Marathon.
These accomplished women join Jelena Prokopcuka, of Latvia, who as the
reigning leader of the World Marathon Majors series announced her
commitment to return to Boston earlier this month. Prokopcuka and Jeptoo
faced off last year in the closest 1-2 finish in the race's history with
Jeptoo taking the win by a slim 20 seconds. Prokopcuka returned the favor
in New York City by besting Jeptoo in that showing. A three-time Olympian,
Prokopcuka holds multiple national records on the road and track and has
won the New York City Marathon the past two years.
Track & Field News ranked Kastor the #1 runner in the world last year and
gave Prokopcuka the #2 rank and Jeptoo the #3 rank. These three top
athletes will join the complete John Hancock elite team, which will be
announced in March.
"As the American record holder and an Olympic medalist, Deena now headlines
Boston playing host to the USA Women's Marathon Championship," said Guy
Morse, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association, which
organizes the marathon. "More important, she could become Boston's first
American champion in more than 20 years, but she'll have to defeat one of
the strongest fields ever. Rita proved herself here last year, winning the
closest women's race in Boston history over Jelena-and with all three women
competing in April, the 111th Boston Marathon is already shaping up to be
one for the ages."
"John Hancock is thrilled to be able to bring the three best women's
marathoners in the world today to Boston for this year's race. We regard
having an outstanding field of runners as part of the fulfillment of our
promise to help ensure that the Boston Marathon remains one of the world's
premier road races now and in the future," said John D. DesPrez III,
President and Chief Executive Officer of John Hancock Financial Services.
About John Hancock and Manulife Financial
John Hancock is a wholly-owned subsidiary 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$381
billion (US$341 billion) as at September 30, 2006.
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
The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of
the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad
range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed
and variable annuities, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care
insurance, college savings and other forms of business insurance.
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