Posted: February 11, 2005

Athletics: John Hancock Financial Services Announces Return of Defending Champions

American Olympian Alan Culpepper, the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion, to Run

BOSTON, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 20th year as the major sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial Services today announced the return of defending champions to the 2005 Boston Marathon, Catherine Ndereba and Timothy Cherigat of Kenya and the entry of Olympian Alan Culpepper of Lafayette, Colorado, for the 109th running of the race. The event will be held on Monday, April 18, 2005.

In the women's field, three-time winner and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Catherine Ndereba returns to claim an unprecedented fourth title. She has run the course five times: winning in 2004, 2001, and 2000; finishing second in 2002, and sixth in her 1999 debut. The first Kenyan woman to win Boston and a World Championship Marathon, Ndereba is a former world-record holder, the second fastest marathoner in the world of all time, and has won or placed second in 12 of her 13 career marathons including Chicago, New York City, and London.

Timothy Cherigat returns as the defending men's champion. Last year, racing against past winners Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Rodgers Rop, he had something to prove coming off a fourth place finish in 2003. As his competitors were faltering in the high temperatures, Cherigat surged off the Newton hills and finished uncontested by nearly a minute. He has placed in the top three spots in four international marathons including New York City and Monaco, and his 2:09:34 win at the San Sebastian Marathon in 2002 remains the fastest time ever run in Spain.

American Olympian Alan Culpepper joins the John Hancock elite athlete team with a win at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials and a 12th place at the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon. A five-time U.S. National Champion in track and cross- country, the University of Colorado graduate has also competed on five World Championship and two Olympic teams. He debuted at the 2002 Chicago Marathon and tied Alberto Salazar for the fastest American debut ever. Culpepper is married to two-time Olympian track standout Shayne Culpepper.

Find the latest news and information about the Boston Marathon at www.marathon.jhancock.com/marathon.

About John Hancock and Manulife Financial
John Hancock is a unit 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 most of 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$346 billion (US$274 billion) as at September 30, 2004. 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.manulife.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 whole life, term life, variable life, and universal life insurance, as well as college savings products, fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance, mutual funds and various forms of business insurance.

SOURCE: John Hancock Financial Services
Web Site: www.jhancock.com.