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Lead Stories: Sunday, November 23, 2008

Boston Marathon Boosts Prize Money for 2008

Posted April 15th, 2008 at 4:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Winning the Boston Marathon just got 50% sweeter.

At next Monday’s 112th running of America’s oldest marathon, the male and female winners will receive $150,000, a hefty boost over last year’s $100,000 payment. Thanks to the sponsorship of John Hancock Financial, the Boston champions will now receive the largest prize money check of the five commercial events of the World Marathon Majors.
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Boston Marathon Finalizes Elite Fields

Posted March 12th, 2008 at 3:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

John Hancock Financial, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, announced today that they had finalized the elite fields for the 112th edition of America’s oldest marathon, set for Monday, April 21.

Most of the field had been announced previously, but a noteworthy addition is women’s course record holder, Margaret Okayo, who hasn’t run a full marathon since finishing 9th in London in 2006 in 2:29:16. She did, however, run as a pacemaker in the Milano City Marathon last December, helping teammate Pamela Chepchumba, run a personal best 2:25:36.
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Cheruiyot Leads Strong Kenyan Contingent for Boston Marathon

Posted February 28th, 2008 at 3:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Of the last 17 editions of the Boston Marathon Kenyan men have won all but two, and defending champion and course record holder Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot has nabbed three of those titles. According to an announcement by John Hancock Financial yesterday, Cheruiyot could be headed for a fourth Boston crown, keeping Kenyan dominance alive at America’s oldest, still-contested marathon, founded in 1897.

Cheruiyot, the 2006/2007 World Marathon Majors champion who rebounded from extreme poverty and homelessness to become one of the world’s finest athletes, first won in Boston in 2003. He had since come back to win twice more in 2006 –when he broke Cosmas Ndeti’s 1994 course record– and again last year when he had to contend with sheets of blowing rain as a Nor’easter pounded Boston.
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Prokopcuka, Grigoryeva Headline Elite Women’s Field at 2008 Boston Marathon

Posted February 13th, 2008 at 11:32 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons

In its 23rd year as the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial announced their team of top women contenders for the 112th running of the race on April 21. Defending Boston Champion Lidiya Grigoryeva is set to compete against 2006 winner Rita Jeptoo, two-time runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka and a new generation of international talent.

The blend of athletes with experience on the course and those new to the challenges of the hilly Hopkinton to Boston route should lead to a highly competitive race. Collectively the group has won 18 international marathons in the past three years and the top nine contenders have less than a three-minute differential in their personal best times. In addition, the athletes will be vying for a top Boston showing to secure a position on their country’s Olympic teams.
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Boston Marathon charity fundraising nets $3 million

Posted August 9th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

John Hancock’s Boston Marathon Fundraising Program raised $3.3 million for charitable and community service organizations, during the 111th running of the historic race. The program, in its 22nd year, set a fundraising record, eclipsing the amount previously raised by more than $400,000.

As the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock provides select non-profit organizations with invitational marathon entries that enable funds to be raised for their organizations. The entries are distributed to runners who wish to raise money but who would not necessarily qualify for race entry based on their personal running times.

Non-profit groups, hospitals and community agencies receiving entries asked runners to raise at least $3,000 for their organization. This year the runners raised an average of more than $3,700. In addition, John Hancock asked its employees to run and raise funds on behalf of non-profits, enabling employees to strengthen their ties to the community.
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John Hancock and Elite Athletes Press Conference

Posted April 13th, 2007 at 1:46 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Resources, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Many of the world’s greatest runners, both past and present, came together for this morning’s John Hancock Boston Marathon Press Conference at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston, MA.

John Hancock , the race’s principal sponsors, opened the event and spoke about their dedication to the sport, the Boston Marathon legacy, and changing the lives of others through their Adopt-a-Marathoner Program. They also highlighted many of this year’s 24 elite athletes, including top-ranked runner and Boston native Deena Kastor, legends like Joan Benoit Samuelson, Kathrine Switzer and Bill Rodgers, and the defending champions, Rita Jeptoo and Robert K. Cheruiyot.

To watch the press conference, please click on the following video image:

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Transcript of John Hancock’s Boston teleconference
with Deena Kastor

Posted March 28th, 2007 at 2:10 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Deena KastorBelow is the complete, and quite lengthy, transcript of John Hancock’s Teleconference with Deena Kastor.

Deena, the reigning Flora London Marathon and USA Cross Country and 15k Champion, is also joined by her coach (and Jen Rhines‘ husband) Terrence Mahon.

The call was moderated by Greg Valenti and took place on March 27, 2007 at 2pm EST.

Operator: Good day. Welcome to John Hancock Financial Services Teleconference with U.S. Olympian and American record holder, Deena Kastor. On [the] line with Deena is her coach, Terence Mahon.
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Hancock adds depth to Boston Marathon field

Posted February 24th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

John Hancock Financial Services, whose checkbook powers the elite fields of the Boston Marathon, announced today that several more top athletes had been added to their race scheduled for Monday, April 16.

Defending champion and World Marathon Majors points leader, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya, will have to fend off challenges from several other top Africans, including the surprise champion of the 2005 Boston Marathon, Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia. The 28 year-old Negussie became the first Ethiopian men’s champion at Boston since Abebe Mekonnen in 1989 when he surged away during the mostly downhill 22nd mile, covering it in 4:29 to break away from the rest of the field.
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