JOHN HANCOCK BRINGS CHAMPION AND STRONG

2009 KENYAN TEAM TO HOPKINTON PRE-MARATHON RALLY

“Adopt-a-Marathoner” Program Celebrates 17^th Year 

Media Release
April 14, 2009

Close to 600 children from the Elmwood Elementary School in Hopkinton will shout jambo (which means welcome in Swahili) when four-time Boston Marathon men’s champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and the 2009 Kenyan team arrive at the Elmwood Elementary School in Hopkinton on Thursday, April 16 at 10 a.m., for the annual pre-race rally.   

Attending with the champion are world-class Kenyan teammates including the 2008 Chicago Marathon men’s champion Evans Cheruiyot, and the 2004 Boston Marathon champion Timothy Cherigat. This year’s Boston Marathon is scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2009. 

The cheering children will wave Kenyan flags and sing the Kenyan National Anthem, performed by the Hopkinton High School band, as the Kenyan athletes enter the gymnasium. The celebration is part of the John Hancock “Adopt-a-Marathoner” program, which is celebrating its 17^th year. 

After the Elmwood School students rally the team, the third-grade students will stay for the breakout sessions, where they will participate in teacher-moderated question and answer sessions with the athletes. The clinic will conclude with the Kenyan athletes taking a ceremonial jog with Hopkinton High School track athletes. The entire event teaches the students how to go the distance through education and athletics.   

WHO: Boston Marathon champions

Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and the John Hancock elite Kenyan Team 

WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 2009 

      Athletes visit two student classrooms              9:30 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. 

      Welcome Ceremony/Rally   9:55 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

      Clinics (3^rd graders/athletes Q&A session) 11:05 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Group Run (Hopkington High track athletes) 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

            and Kenyan marathoners 

WHERE: Elmwood Elementary School 
14 Elm Street, Hopkinton, MA