Alan Culpepper to Race Meb at 2006 Boston Marathon Alan Culpepper, the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion, is Set to Return Press Release from John Hancock
BOSTON, MA - January 31, 2006 - John Hancock Financial Services today announced the return of two-time Olympian Alan Culpepper of Lafayette, Colorado, for the 110th running of the race scheduled for Monday, April 17, 2006. This is the 21st year that John Hancock is the major sponsor of the Boston Marathon.
"I had an incredible experience at last year's Boston Marathon, and I am excited to return in 2006," said Alan Culpepper. "John Hancock, the event organizers, and the crowds provided the support and environment that inspired me to return for this year's event. I learned a lot from my Boston debut and am looking forward to improving upon last year's fourth place finish."
Recognized as one of the fastest American marathoners of all time, Culpepper debuted at the distance in Chicago in 2002 and his time of 2:09:41 tied Alberto Salazar's time for the fastest American debut ever. Culpepper's Boston finish last year was the highest by an American since Dave Gordon's fourth in 1987.
"We are happy to have last year's top American return to Boston, and we're looking forward to seeing Alan improve on his performance," said Guy Morse, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association. "Thanks to John Hancock's ongoing support, race fans will again see the best U.S. marathon runners compete against a competitive international field."
The 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials winner, in only his second marathon, Culpepper ran to 12th place in the 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. In 2000, he competed in the 10,000m at the Olympics.
Culpepper grew up in El Paso, Texas, and earned five high school state titles in track and cross-country. He is married to two-time Olympian track standout Shayne Culpepper, and says the 2004 Olympic experience was a highlight as both he and his wife (5,000m) won their U.S. Trials to qualify. Culpepper added that the Olympic Marathon gave him a lot more confidence in his abilities. "I felt like it opened my eyes to the fact that I can run on a tough course like Boston, despite being a track athlete, and be successful."
With Culpepper's commitment to run, the Boston Marathon will bring the top two U.S. marathoners together. Culpepper joins American Olympic silver medalist Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi who announced his commitment to run earlier this month.
=============== ALAN CULPEPPER Lafayette, Colorado, U.S.
AGE: 33 (9/15/72)
PERSONAL BEST: 2:09:41 (Chicago, 2002)
BOSTON MARATHON HISTORY: 4th in 2005 (2:13:39) In his Boston debut, Culpepper outran two past champions, Timothy Cherigat and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, to finish fourth in the best performance by an American since Dave Gordon's fourth in 1987. Culpepper returns to improve both time and place and enters the race with the fastest American time.
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS: 10/09/05 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 12th (2:13:20) 08/29/04 Athens Olympic Marathon 12th (2:15:26) 02/07/04 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, Birmingham 1st (2:11:42) 10/13/02 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 6th (2:09:41)
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 07/22/05 British Grand Prix, London 5,000m 11th (13:25.75) 06/19/03 U.S. National Championships 10,000m 1st (27:55.36) 08/24/03 IAAF World Championships 10,000m, Paris 14th (28:14.92) 02/16/03 U.S. Cross Country 12K Championships 1st (38:22) 06/22/02 U.S. National Championships 5,000m 1st (13:27.52) 07/14/00 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m 2nd (28:03.35)
CAREER NOTES: Culpepper won the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in only his second marathon and at the Olympics finished an impressive 12th. In 2005, he finished fourth in Boston, giving a nod to the progress of American distance runners, and was the top American finisher in Chicago (12th overall). Debuting at the distance in 2002, Culpepper tied Alberto Salazar for the fastest American debut ever.
Culpepper grew up in Texas and was influenced as a high school runner by the Ethiopian and Kenyan runners who were recruited to nearby University of Texas at El Paso. He earned five state prep titles in track and cross-country, but his breakthrough came in 1996 as a senior at the University of Colorado. There he won the 5,000m NCAA Championships and placed tenth at the Olympic Trials in the same distance. He is now one of the top Americans in the sport recording a 10,000m best of 27:33.93 and a 13:25.75 in the 5,000m. A five-time National Champion in track and cross-country, Culpepper has competed on five World Championship teams and two Olympic teams: 10,000m in 2000; the marathon in 2004. Track & Field News ranked him the number two marathoner in the U.S. in 2004 and 2005.
PERSONAL NOTES: Culpepper is married to two-time Olympian Shayne Culpepper and the couple has a four-year old son named Cruz. "2006 is an exciting year for our family as we are expecting our second child in June," Culpepper said. "I am also thrilled about the state of my running and marathon pursuits. I have had exceptional training for many years and look forward to applying my experience and fitness to better my 2005 fourth place finish at this year's race."
Culpepper says his Olympic experience was a highlight as both he and his wife won their U.S. Trials to qualify. (Shayne won the 5,000m Trials.) Culpepper started playing piano when he was a youth and still plays, although he added the guitar and bass during a college injury to keep busy. He double majored in geography and sociology at the University of Colorado and after college decided to make the state his home. He lives and trains just outside Boulder and is self-coached. He says the Olympics gave him a lot more confidence in his abilities. "I felt like it opened my eyes to the fact that I can run on a tough course like Boston, despite being a track athlete, and be successful."
About Manulife Financial and John Hancock 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 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$360 billion (US$310 billion) as at September 30, 2005.
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.
