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U.S. Olympian Alan Culpepper, the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion, to Run
BOSTON - (February 10, 2005) - In its 20th year as the major sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial Services Thursday 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, Colo., 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 2000-01 and 2004; 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 or www.bostonmarathon.org.
source RunningUSA
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