John Hancock Financial Releases Elite Roster for Boston Marathon
John Hancock Financial, principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon for 23 years, have recently annouced their latest roster for their elite team. 31 marathon runners from eight countries are now set to perform in the 112th running of the race on the 21st of April 2008. On the top of this roster are defending champions Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot from Kenya, and Lidiya Grigoryeva from Russia, who have a good competition ahead of them with past champions Rita Jeptoo, Timothy Cherigat, and Margaret Okayo being back to challenge them.
Participants in the men's field are all looking good and have their goals. Cheruiyot, who happened to be the champion in 2003, 2006 and 2007 is seeking to be the first Kenyan runner to bag four Boston Marathon crowns. Apart from the Boston marathon, Cheruiyot also won the Chicago Marathon in 2006, Milan Marathon in 2002, and had earned the title of the inaugural world marathon majors series champion.
Kwambai, was a past marathon winner in Beijing and Brescia meets, and had been shadowing Cheruiyot until the 25th mile in last year's marathon right before the latter surged ahead for the win.
Cherigat, another contender, had won a tactical race in 2004, and has had five starts in London, carrying with him plenty of experience to secure another title.
Others include Patrick Ivuti of Kenya (2007 Chicago champion), Gashaw Asfaw of Ethiopia (2006 Paris champion), Stephen Kiogora of Kenya (last Boston race's third-placer), Abderrahime Bouramdane of Morocco (runner up in 2007 Seoul and Ottawa meets), Christopher Cheboiboch (2007 Las Vegas champion), William Kiplagat (2007 Lake Biwa runner up), and Shadrack Kiplagat from Kenya.
Young talents were also chosen for this prestigious race, including 21-year old Yirefu Birhanu of Ethiopia (2006 Baltimore winner), and James Mwangi Macharia of Kenya (2nd placer in Vienna marathon debut).
The rest of the men's team are world-class athletes as well, with Abdelhadi El Mouahiz of Morocco (won his debut race in San Sabastian last year), four-time European cross-country champion Paulo Guerrera of Portugal, James Koskei of Kenya (2007 Dallas marathon champion), Khalid El Boumlili of Morocco, Ethiopians, Tariku Aboset, Kasmie Adillo, Tesfaye Girma, and Dejene Yiridaw.
The women's team, on the other hand, are just as strong and world-class as the men's team are. Leading the team are three champions, namely Russian Lidiya Grigoryeva (defending champion, 2-time Olympian, 2005 Paris marathon champion), Rita Jeptoo (2006 Boston Champion) and Margaret Okayo (2002 Boston Champion, also holds the course record and fastest time in the field)
Following the trio of champions are equally determined and accomplished runners such as Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia (two-time runner up who almost beat both Grigoryeva and Jeptoo in the New York City races), talented newcomers such as Askale Tafa Magarsa (2007 Paris and Dubai, 2006 Milan champion) and Dire Tune (Hong Kong 2006 Champion, and record setter in Houston 2007 and 2008), both from Ethiopia.
Ukrainian national record holder Tetyana Kuzina-Hladyr will be making her debut on the Boston course and so will 2007 Amsterdam winner Magdaline Chemjor from Kenya.
Finally, more tough competition will be accounted for by returnees Alevtina Biktimirova of Russia (2007 Honolulu Marathon champion), Bruna Genovese from Italy (past winner of Tokyo Women's Marathon), and finally, 21-year old Robe Tola Guta from Ethiopia (2006 Hamburg Marathon champion)
This mind-boggling roster of fine athletes, having both experienced runners and fresh faces, will surely prove for an incredibly competitive and exciting race.
