FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joshua Milne
Sports Marketing PR Specialist
John Hancock Financial Services
Phone: 617-572-3816
Cell: 617-824-0294
JOHN HANCOCK ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF 2003 BOSTON MARATHON CHAMPION
TO THE 109TH ELITE INTERNATIONAL FIELD
BOSTON, MA - April 12, 2005 - John Hancock, the principal sponsor of the
Boston Marathon, announced today the addition of 2003 Boston champion
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya to their elite team of 32 athletes from
12 countries. The race is scheduled for Monday, April 18, 2005.
Cheruiyot will join defending champion Timothy Cherigat and last year's
runner up Robert Cheboror, who was the second fastest marathoner in the
world last year. The race should prove highly competitive as eleven men in
the field hold personal bests under 2:10.
Additional adds to the men's field include Benjamin Kipchumba of Kenya, the
winner of the 2004 Nairobi Marathon; Benson Cherono of Kenya; and Moroccan
Olympian Khalid El Boumlili, the winner of the 2004 Marrakech Marathon.
Withdrawals from the field include Malgorzata Sobanska of Poland due to
illness, Olivera Jevtic due to a calf injury and Paul Koech due to training
difficulties.
109th B.A.A. BOSTON MARATHON
JOHN HANCOCK'S 2005 ELITE FIELD
Men's Open Field
Robert Cheboror, Kenya
Wilson Onsare, Kenya
Benjamin Kosgei Kimutai, Kenya
Mohamed Ouaadi, France
Hailu Negussie, Ethiopia
Pavel Loskutov, Estonia
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Kenya
Stephen Kiogora, Kenya
Benjamin Kipchumba, Kenya
Timothy Cherigat, Kenya
Alan Culpepper, United States
Thomas Omwenga, Kenya
Khalid El Boumlili, Morocco
Benson Cherono, Kenya
Gidey Amaha, Ethiopia
Terefe Yae, Ethiopia
Andrew Letherby, Australia
Ryan Shay, United States
John Itati, Kenya
James Koskei, Kenya
Women's Open Field
Catherine Ndereba, Kenya
Svetlana Zakharova, Russia
Gete Wami, Ethiopia
Elfenesh Alemu, Ethiopia
Nuta Olaru, Romania
Bruna Genovese, Italy
Zhor El Kamch, Morocco
Shitaye Gemechu, Ethiopia
Grazyna Syrek, Poland
Lyubov Morgunova, Russia
Eri Hayakawa, Japan
Mina Ogawa, Japan
Find the latest news and information about the Boston Marathon at
www.marathon.jhancock.com/marathon.
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