• Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Log In
  • Sign Up
  • Data Privacy
  • Send a Release
Cision PR Newswire: news distribution, targeting and monitoring home
  • News
  • Products
    • Overview
    • Distribution by PR Newswire
    • Cision Communications Cloud®
    • Cision IR
    • Sponsored Placement
    • All Products
  • Contact
    • General Inquiries
    • Request a Demo
    • Editorial Bureaus
    • Partnerships
    • Media Inquiries
    • Worldwide Offices

 

When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • All Public Company
      • English-only
      • News Releases Overview

      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
      • Multimedia Gallery Overview

      • Trending Topics

      • All Trending Topics
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • All Automotive & Transportation
      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • Auto & Transportation Overview

      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • All Business Technology
      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • Business Technology Overview

      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview

      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • All Financial Services & Investing
      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • Financial Services & Investing Overview

      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • All General Business
      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • General Business Overview

      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • All Consumer Technology
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • Consumer Technology Overview

      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • All Energy
      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • Energy & Natural Resources Overview

      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • All Environ­ment
      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • Environ­ment Overview

      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing Overview

      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • All Telecomm­unications
      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • Telecomm­unications Overview

      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • All Consumer Products & Retail
      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • Consumer Products & Retail Overview

      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview

      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • All Health
      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • Health Overview

      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • All Sports
      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • Sports Overview

      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • All Travel
      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • Travel Overview

      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • All Policy & Public Interest
      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • Policy & Public Interest Overview

      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • All People & Culture
      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • People & Culture Overview

      • View All People & Culture

      • In-Language News

      • español
      • português
      • Česko
      • Danmark
      • Deutschland
      • España
      • France
      • Italia
      • Nederland
      • Norge
      • Polska
      • Portugal
      • Россия
      • Slovensko
      • Suomi
      • Sverige
  • Overview
  • Distribution by PR Newswire
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Cision IR
  • Sponsored Placement
  • All Products
  • General Inquiries
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • Media Inquiries
  • Worldwide Offices
  • PR Newswire: news distribution, targeting and monitoring
  • Send a Release
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us

      888-776-0942
      from 8 AM - 10 PM ET

  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
    • Trending Topics
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Overview
  • Distribution by PR Newswire
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Cision IR
  • All Products
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • General Inquiries
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • Media Inquiries
  • Worldwide Offices
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR

John Hancock Financial Announces 2015 Boston Marathon International Elite Field

36 Elite Athletes From 11 Countries Invited for 119th Running on April 20


News provided by

John Hancock Financial

Jan 20, 2015, 10:00 ET

Share this article

Share this article


BOSTON, Jan. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 30th year as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial today announced the elite field for the 119th running of the Boston Marathon on April 20. A complete field list follows.

Five past champions will return to compete in the world's most historic marathon, but they will be strongly challenged by a talented men's and women's international field possessing both speed and depth. Boston champions Meb Keflezighi, Lelisa Desisa, Wesley Korir, Sharon Cherop and Caroline Kilel will join Olympic and IAAF World Championships medalists; Abbott World Marathon Majors champions of Berlin, New York City and Tokyo; and the combined winners of 85 global marathons who will seek to win the coveted Boston Marathon title.

The chase for the 2015 men's title will be aggressive, with seven men in the field holding personal-best marathon times under 2:05:30 and ten men with times under 2:06:30.  Former world marathon record-holder and two-time BMW Berlin-Marathon champion Patrick Makau leads the group. Makau recently won the challenging 2014 Fukuoka Marathon and is also a past winner of marathons in Frankfurt and Rotterdam.

Lelisa Desisa, the 2013 Boston Marathon champion and 2013 World Championships Marathon silver medalist will challenge for the win as will Abel Kirui, the two-time World Championships Marathon gold medalist. Tadese Tola, the 2013 World Championships Marathon bronze medalist, is also in the field, as is accomplished marathoner Yemane Tsegay, who has won eight global marathons. Making his Boston debut is Zersenay Tadese, the world record-holder in the half marathon and 20K and an Olympic and World Championships medalist in track, roads and cross-country.

This group will face competition from the 2014 Boston Marathon podium winners all of whom return: Meb Keflezighi, Wilson Chebet and Frankline Chepkwony. Keflezighi brings experience and a strategic approach to the course. Along with his 2014 Boston Marathon victory, he is an Olympic Marathon silver medalist and TCS New York City champion. Chebet, the 2014 Boston Marathon runner-up is a three-time winner in Amsterdam and a Rotterdam champion, and Chepkwony, who was third in Boston last year, is a past Seoul and Zurich champion.

Also racing with valuable course experience are Wesley Korir, Gebregziabher Gebremariam and Bernard Kipyego. Korir won the Boston Marathon in 2012 in extreme heat and also won twice in Los Angeles. Gebremariam, a two-time Olympian, won in New York City in 2010 and finished third in 2014. In Boston, Gebremariam finished third in 2012 and 2013. Kipyego won the 2014 TCS Amsterdam Marathon and has made the podium in Boston, Chicago and Tokyo.

Rounding out the international men's field are the second-fastest Canadian marathoner of all time, Dylan Wykes; two-time Moroccan Olympian Abderrahime Bouramdane; two-time Hannover winner Lusapho April of South Africa; and Ukrainian Olympian Vitaliy Shafar, who finished fourth last year in Boston.

Top Americans, announced last week, include three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, Jeffrey Eggleston, Nicholas Arciniaga and Fernando Cabada. For John Hancock U.S. Elite Team Press Release and Video: http://www.johnhancock.com/about/news_details.php?fn=jan0715-text&yr=2015

On the women's side, John Hancock has assembled the fastest field in the history of the event with ten women holding personal best times under 2:23. The dynamics of the field should prove for an interesting race, as there is a blend of world-class experience and talent across several road and track disciplines.

Leading the way with experience are past Boston Marathon champions Sharon Cherop and Caroline Kilel. Cherop won Boston in 2012 and placed third in 2011 and 2013. She earned a bronze medal at the 2011 World Marathon Championships and has won marathons in Toronto, Hamburg, Singapore and Turin. Kilel won Boston in 2011 and earned a silver medal at last year's Commonwealth Games Marathon. She has won seven additional marathons around the world.

Chasing the Kenyan duo is a team of Ethiopia's most accomplished runners: Aberu Kebede, Mare Dibaba, Buzunesh Deba, Mamitu Daska and Ejegayehu Dibaba.

Kebede is a Tokyo Marathon and two-time BMW Berlin-Marathon champion. Deba is champion of eight U.S. marathons and was Boston runner-up last year. Mare Dibaba was second in Chicago this year and is a two-time winner in Xiamen. Daska won both the B.A.A. 10K and B.A.A. Half Marathon last year and has won marathons in Dubai, Houston and Frankfurt. Ejegayehu Dibaba is an Olympic silver medalist and two-time World Championships bronze medalist in the 10,000m. In her 2011 marathon debut in Chicago, she finished second.

Also focused on the podium are American elites Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Davila Linden and Amy Hastings. The trio was announced last week and expects to contend for the win. Flanagan holds the fourth fastest time in the competitive field, Linden was runner-up in Boston in 2011, and Hastings is coming off a fifth place in Chicago last year.

Ready to run for the coveted olive wreath are Los Angeles winner and Belarus national-record-holder Aleksandra Duliba, Prague and Los Angeles champion Caroline Rotich, two-time Olympian Marisa Barros of Portugal, Linz and Zurich champion Lisa Stublic Nemec, African Championships 10,000m gold medalist Joyce Chepkirui and, making her marathon debut, half marathon specialist Cynthia Limo.

"For 30 years, John Hancock as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been recruiting many of the world's best marathoners to run here," says Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director.  "During the last three decades, unpredictable and compelling races have played out on the streets from Hopkinton to Boston, as our American and international athletes push themselves to win here, more than any other race they will contest.  We look forward to the spring and watching new stories unfold in these athletes' quest to capture the olive wreath at the finish on Boylston Street."

Rob Friedman, head of sponsorship and event marketing at John Hancock, adds, "To run the historic Boston Marathon makes you part of a legacy that is more than a century old. And to win the Boston Marathon makes you a running legend for all time. As we welcome five former champions back to Boston to compete against an exceptional international field, we recognize the commitment and hard work it takes to compete at the highest level of the sport. We look forward to another exciting race in Boston on April 20."

For additional information about John Hancock's Elite Athlete Team and sponsorship, please visit www.johnhancock.com/bostonmarathon/sportspartnerships.html or follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/jhboston26 or @jhboston26.

2015 John Hancock Elite Athlete Team  

119th Boston Marathon                April 20, 2015  


MEN

Personal Best Time

Country

Patrick Makau

2:03:38 (Berlin, 2011)

Kenya

Lelisa Desisa

2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013)

Ethiopia

Yemane Tsegay

2:04:48 (Rotterdam, 2012)

Ethiopia

Tadese Tola

2:04:49 (Dubai, 2013)

Ethiopia

Gebregziabher  Gebremariam

2:04:53 (Boston, 2011)

Ethiopia

Abel Kirui

2:05:04 (Rotterdam, 2009)

Kenya

Wilson Chebet

2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011)

Kenya

Frankline Chepkwony

2:06:11 (Eindhoven, 2012)

Kenya

Wesley Korir

2:06:13 (Chicago, 2012)

Kenya

Bernard Kipyego

2:06:22 (Amsterdam, 2014)

Kenya

Abderrahime Bouramdane

2:07:33 (London, 2010)

Morocco

Dathan Ritzenhein

2:07:47 (Chicago, 2012)

USA

Lusapho April

2:08:32 (Hannover, 2013)

South Africa

Meb Keflezighi

2:08:37 (Boston, 2014)

USA

Vitaliy Shafar

2:09:37 (Boston, 2014)

Ukraine

Zersenay Tadese

2:10:41 (London, 2012)

Eritrea

Dylan Wykes

2:10:47 (Rotterdam, 2012)

Canada

Jeffrey Eggleston

2:10:52 (Gold Coast, 2014)

USA

Nicholas Arciniaga

2:11:30 (Houston, 2011)

USA

Fernando Cabada

2:11:36 (Berlin, 2014)

USA




WOMEN

Personal Best Time

Country

Mare Dibaba

2:19:52 (Xiamen, 2015)

Ethiopia

Buzunesh Deba

2.19:59 (Boston, 2014)

Ethiopia

Aberu Kebede

2:20:30 (Berlin, 2012)

Ethiopia

Shalane Flanagan

2:21:14 (Berlin, 2014)

USA

Aleksandra Duliba

2:21:29 (Boston, 2014)

Belarus

Mamitu Daska

2:21:59 (Frankfurt, 2011)

Ethiopia

Ejegayehu Dibaba

2:22:09 (Chicago, 2011)

Ethiopia

Sharon Cherop

2:22:28 (Berlin, 2013)

Kenya

Caroline Kilel

2:22:34 (Frankfurt, 2013)

Kenya

Desiree Davila Linden

2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)

USA

Caroline Rotich

2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)

Kenya

Marisa Barros

2:25:04 (Yokohama, 2011)

Portugal

Lisa Stublic Nemec

2:25:44 (Zurich, 2013)

Croatia

Amy Hastings

2:27:03 (Chicago, 2014)

USA

Joyce Chepkirui

2:30:23  (Honolulu, 2014)

Kenya

Cynthia Limo

Debut

Kenya

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, our group of companies 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 and its subsidiaries were C$663 billion (US$591 billion) as at September 30, 2014. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as "MFC" on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under "945" on the SEHK. Manulife can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.
The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

Video - http://youtu.be/MuN_SrmKdlQ

SOURCE John Hancock Financial

Related Links

http://www.jhancock.com

Modal title

Contact Cision

  • Cision Distribution 888-776-0942
    from 8 AM - 9 PM ET

  • Chat with an Expert
  • General Inquiries
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • Media Inquiries
  • Worldwide Offices

Products

  • Cision Communication Cloud®
  • For Marketers
  • For Public Relations
  • For IR & Compliance
  • For Agency
  • For Small Business
  • All Products

About

  • About PR Newswire
  • About Cision
  • Become a Publishing Partner
  • Become a Channel Partner
  • Careers
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Asia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Mexico
  • Middle East
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom

My Services

  • All New Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2022 Cision US Inc.