John Hancock Financial Services Announces
2003 Boston Marathon Elite International Field
2003-04-16 17:05 ET - News Release
BOSTON, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In its 18th year as principal
sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock is proud to announce its elite
team of international marathon runners today, including the men's and
women's defending champions, Rodgers Rop and Margaret Okayo of Kenya, and
the #1 ranked U.S. women's marathoner Marla Runyan of Eugene, Oregon. This
year's field of 29 Olympic, world, and nationally ranked runners from 11
nations will compete on April 21, 2003, Patriot's Day.
In the men's field, Rodgers Rop will seek to defend his title against many
of the fastest marathoners in the world. An eleven member Kenyan team also
includes last year's runner-up Christopher Cheboiboch, world-ranked Vincent
Kipsos and Benjamin Kimutai. Italian Olympian Giacomo Leone and two-time
Boston runner-up and Ecuadorian Olympian Silvio Guerra will add to the
competitiveness of the elite field. These seasoned runners will face tough
opposition from additional athletes out of Brazil, Canada, Estonia,
Tanzania and Venezuela.
On the women's side, Margaret Okayo of Kenya shattered the Boston Marathon
women's record last year, running 2:20:43, and this year she will race for
a second laurel wreath. Challenging Okayo are 2000 Olympic Marathon bronze
medalist Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya and Russian national record holder
Svetlana Zakharova. Focusing on the trio will be eight world-ranked
marathoners, including the #1 ranked U.S. women's marathoner Marla Runyan
and half-marathon world record holder and two-time Boston runner-up Elana
Meyer of South Africa. The elite field will face tough competition from two
additional American marathoners, 2002 U.S. National Champion Jill Gaitenby
and Milena Glusac.
John Hancock announces today that David Kiptum Busienei of Kenya has been
added to the elite field. Athletes withdrawing from the field include Eric
Wainaina of Kenya, due to corporate team restrictions on travel; Stephen
Kiogara, due to difficulty in training; Alice Chelangat, due to plantar
fascia injury.
These athletes are part of the John Hancock Running and Fitness Clinic
staff. Since the program's inception in 1986, athletes have visited more
than 80,000 school children across the country to promote the benefits of a
healthy, active lifestyle.
Speaking on behalf of the clinic athletes, four-time Boston champion Bill
Rodgers said, "We're proud to be part of the John Hancock Running and
Fitness Clinic team teaching children about health and fitness. The
international competition and the depth of the field point to the
encompassing reach of the world's oldest annually held marathon and the
enthusiastic support of Boston fans which contribute to the success of this
world class event."
John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. and its affiliated companies provide
a broad array of insurance and investment products and services to retail
and institutional customers. As of December 31, 2002, John Hancock and its
subsidiaries had total assets under management of $127.6 billion.
FIELD LIST ATTACHED
107th Boston Marathon John Hancock's 2003 Elite Athlete Field
Men's Open Field Personal Best
Vincent Kipsos, Kenya 2:06:52 (Berlin, 2002)
Benjamin Kosgei Kimutai, Kenya 2:07:26 (Amsterdam, 2002)
Giacomo Leone, Italy 2:07:52 (Otsu, 2001)
Rodgers Rop, Kenya 2:08:07 (New York, 2002)
Christopher Cheboiboch, Kenya 2:08:17 (New York, 2002)
Laban Kipkemboi, Kenya 2:08:39 (New York, 2002)
Pavel Loskutov, Estonia 2:08:53 NR (Paris, 2002)
John Nada Saya, Tanzania 2:08:57 (Milan, 2001)
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Kenya 2:08:59 (Milan, 2002)
Timothy Cherigat, Kenya 2:09:34 (San Sebastian, 2002)
Silvio Guerra, Ecuador 2:09:49 NR (Chicago, 1997)
David Kiptum Busienei, Kenya 2:09:58 (San Sebastian, 2002)
Martin Lel, Kenya 2:10:02 (Venice, 2002)
Luis Fonseca, Venezuela 2:11:49 (Boston, 2002)
Romulo Da Silva, Brazil 2:12:24 (Berlin, 2001)
Bruce Deacon, Canada 2:13:18 (Sacramento, 2002)
Wilson Kipkemboi Kigen, Kenya 2:13:49 (Eindoven, 2002)
Women's Open Field Personal Best
Margaret Okayo, Kenya 2:20:43 CR (Boston, 2002)
Svetlana Zakharova, Russia 2:21:31 NR (Chicago, 2002)
Joyce Chepchumba, Kenya 2:23:22 (London, 1999)
Elana Meyer, South Africa 2:25:15 NR (Boston, 1994)
Esther Kiplagat, Kenya 2:25:32 (Paris, 2002)
Lyubov Denisova, Russia 2:26:17 (New York, 2002)
Marla Runyan, U. S. 2:27:10 (New York, 2002)
Albina Ivanova, Russia 2:29:53 (Honolulu, 2002)
Milena Glusac, U. S. 2:31:14 (New York, 2002)
Jill Gaitenby, U. S. 2:36:10 (Minneapolis, 2002)
CONTACT:
Pam Kruh
(617) 572-0558
John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
CONTACT: Pam Kruh for John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.,
+1-617-572-0558
Web site: www.jhancock.com/.
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