FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Hancock and the Boston Athletic Association Announce Return of
Defending Champions for 2019 Boston Marathon
- Desiree Linden, Yuki Kawauchi, Tatyana McFadden and Marcel Hug set to
defend their titles on April 15, 2019
- 2019 Marks the 34th Year of John Hancock's Principal Sponsorship of the
Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MA, December 10, 2018, 10:00 a.m. EST-John Hancock and the Boston
Athletic Association today announced the return of 2018 Boston Marathon
open champions Desiree Linden and Yuki Kawauchi, as well as wheelchair
champions Tatyana McFadden and Marcel Hug for the 123rd running of the race
on April 15, 2019. The 2019 Boston Marathon marks the 34th year of John
Hancock's landmark sponsorship of the world's oldest annual marathon.
"At Boston this year, Desiree Linden, Yuki Kawauchi, Tatyana McFadden and
Marcel Hug proved freezing rain and driving wind were no match for the
opportunity to be crowned Boston Marathon champions," said John Hancock
Chief Marketing Officer Barbara Goose. "Their perseverance and tenacity led
the way for thousands of runners to realize their own dreams. We look
forward to welcoming back our champions as well as all participants and
spectators for another historic race on Patriots' Day."
"Last April Des Linden and Yuki Kawauchi, in the most challenging of
weather conditions, etched their names in Boston Marathon history with
races that served to inspire people around the world," said Boston Athletic
Association CEO Tom Grilk. "In the wheelchair division, Tatyana McFadden
and Marcel Hug both returned to their familiar spots on the podium with
resounding victories. Along with John Hancock, we are excited to welcome
this quartet of champions back to Boston for the 123rd Boston Marathon."
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5IuFkcUdpNAK91ZV3F-X0h5UpXEdQ0jv
About Desiree Linden:
- Desiree Linden, a two-time U.S. Olympian, won the 2018 Boston Marathon in
driving rain, wind and near freezing temperatures. Her victory marked the
first time in 33 years that an American woman earned the coveted open
division title.
- Prior to 2018, Linden had run the Boston Marathon on five different
occasions, narrowly missing the title in 2011 by two seconds when she ran a
lifetime best of 2:22:38.
- A top-five finisher in eight Abbott World Marathon Majors, additional
accomplishments include placing seventh at the 2016 Olympic Games Marathon,
tenth at the 2009 IAAF World Championships Marathon, second at the 2012 and
2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon and second in the 10,000m at the 2015 Pan
American Games.
"John Hancock takes so much pride in assembling their elite field. They
bring together world class athletes with different racing strengths who can
create a compelling story out on the roads," said Linden. "In 2007, I ran
my first Boston Marathon; I absolutely fell in love with the event, the
course, the city, all of it. I thought I had every experience imaginable
racing in Boston, but in 2019 I'm thrilled and proud to have another first
as I'll start the race as the defending Boston Marathon Champion. My 12
years of history in Boston have nothing on the 123 years of the event, but
each year has made me love and appreciate it even more, and I can't imagine
racing anywhere else in April."
About Yuki Kawauchi:
- This year Yuki Kawauchi took on a world class field and in conditions as
tough as he is, became the first Japanese winner since 1987 - the same year
he was born.
- An international icon for his high-volume, high quality racing, Kawauchi
has won over 30 marathons, holds the Japanese 50K national best time and
has competed on three IAAF World Championships Marathon teams.
- Kawauchi holds world records for running the most sub-2:12 marathons
(26), sub-2:13 (42), sub-2:14 (50), sub-2:15 (57), sub-2:16 (67), sub-2:17
(92), sub-2:18 (77), sub-2:19 (81), and sub-2:20 (83).
"I am pleased to be able to take part in the Boston Marathon again as the
returning champion," said Kawauchi. "My victory in Boston was a moment in
my marathon life that I will never forget. I look forward to meeting all my
fellow runners in Boston and running together with them."
About Tatyana McFadden:
- A Boston fan favorite, American Tatyana McFadden returns after winning
five of the last six women's wheelchair crowns in Boston. McFadden had a
staggering 15 minute and 22 second margin of victory this year, prevailing
through adverse conditions to break the tape in 2:04:39.
- A dominant force on the wheelchair stage, McFadden has won 22 Abbott
World Marathon Majors races.
- McFadden is a 17-time Paralympic medalist on the track and competed in
the 2014 Winter Olympics, earning a silver medal in cross-country skiing.
"I love coming to Boston," said McFadden. "It will always hold a special
place in my heart. I love the course and the community support. The course
is very technical and the elite women's division continues to grow and get
better every year."
About Marcel Hug:
- Marcel Hug, one of Switzerland's most accomplished athletes, powered away
from ten-time Boston champion Ernst van Dyk to capture this year's Boston
Marathon title.
- As one of only three men in history to have won four consecutive Boston
titles, Hug returns seeking a fifth win and the opportunity to better his
World Best 1:18:04 that he set at the 2017 Boston Marathon.
- A two-time defending Abbott World Marathon Majors Wheelchair Series
champion, with 16 total wins, Hug is also an eight-time Paralympic
medalist.
"It means a lot to me to come back to Boston next year to this prestigious
and historic marathon," said Hug. "The best athletes from all over the
world will be at the start line. I am the defending champion there; this
makes it even more special."
Additional elite field announcements will roll out over the next month. For
more information about the elite athlete program and sponsorship, please
visit www.johnhancock.com/bostonmarathon/sportspartnerships.html
About John Hancock and Manulife
John Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading
international financial services group that helps people make their
decisions easier and lives better. We operate primarily as John Hancock in
the United States, and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice,
insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups
and institutions. Assets under management and administration by Manulife
and its subsidiaries were over CAD$1.1 trillion (US$849 billion) as of June
30, 2018. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE,
and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.
One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock
supports approximately 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial
products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans,
and college savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be
found at johnhancock.com.
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