FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Carmichael
617-663-4748
John Hancock Financial Services Announces Leaders of World Marathon
Majors to Run 2007 Boston Marathon
Two-time Boston Champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and
Two-time New York Champion Jelena Prokopcuka Will Compete to
Bolster Their Lead for Million Dollar Prize
BOSTON, MA, January 10, 2007-In its 22nd year as the major sponsor of the
Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial Services announced the return of
two-time champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya and last year's
runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia for the 111th running of the race on
April 16.
Cheruiyot and Prokopcuka have chosen to compete in Boston to reinforce
their commanding lead in the prestigious World Marathon Majors series and
move closer to sharing the million-dollar prize awarded at the end of the
year. The series brings together the best athletes in the world to compete
in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. John Hancock also sponsors
a significant purse for the top runners at Boston each year.
Both athletes return to Hancock's elite team with outstanding
accomplishments. Cheruiyot is the reigning Boston and Chicago Marathon
champion, earning the distinction as the only man to have ever won both
marathons in the same year. In Boston last year, Cheruiyot claimed the
course record in 2:07:14. He also won Boston in 2003 and the Milan City
Marathon in 2002. "Boston is always an exciting race to compete in and I'd
like to thank John Hancock for welcoming me back to run again against a
highly competitive field," said Cheruiyot.
Last year's women's runner-up in Boston and two-time New York City
champion, Jelena Prokopcuka, will be racing for the crown after placing
second last year and fourth in 2004. Prokopcuka has competed for Latvia in
the past three Olympics and is a multiple national record-holder on the
track and roads. At the Osaka Marathon in 2005, she secured the win with a
national record of 2:22:56. At New York the past two years, she was the
undisputed leader despite being challenged by the world's best runners.
"Robert and Jelena are two of the premier marathoners in the world, as
evidenced by their current standing atop the World Marathon Majors
leaderboard," said Guy Morse, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic
Association, which organizes the marathon. "The constitution of the elite
athlete field makes Boston one of the most eagerly anticipated sporting
events of the spring. Like the rest of the community, we appreciate John
Hancock's ongoing support."
"For more than 20 years, John Hancock has fulfilled its promise to the city
of Boston and surrounding communities to support the Boston Marathon. By
bringing top runners like Robert and Jelena back to the race year after
year, John Hancock helps ensure 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. "In addition, beyond being an annual sign of spring in the Boston
area, the Boston Marathon also has a tremendous positive effect on the
region, generating a direct and indirect economic impact of an estimated
$95 million annually, and John Hancock is proud to play its part in this
event."
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.maulife.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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