Friday, January 13, 2006 - 04:05 PM

Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi, Olympic Marathon silver medalist and American
10,000 meter record holder, is set to compete April 17

BOSTON, MA - January 10, 2006 - In its 21st year as the major sponsor of the
Boston Marathon, John Hancock Financial Services announced the entry of
two-time American Olympian and U.S. 10,000 meter record holder Mebrahtom
"Meb" Keflezighi for the 110th running of the race.

"The Boston Marathon is internationally recognized and has a great
tradition, and I know there will be high expectations for me," Meb
Keflezighi said. "I always 'run to win.' It is the motto that I live by."

Keflezighi (Kef-lez-ghee) joins John Hancock's elite team with outstanding
accomplishments and the fastest marathon run by an American in 2005. A
13-time U.S. national champion on the track, roads and cross country, the
UCLA graduate has competed on seven World Championship and two Olympic
teams.

After securing a position on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon team, Keflezighi
went on to win the U.S. 10,000m Olympic Trials. Although he qualified for
two events, he chose to focus solely on the marathon in Athens and trained
arduously at altitude in Mammoth Lakes, California. The hard work and
dedication paid off as Keflezighi ran the strategic race of his life against
the world's best runners. His silver medal was the best showing by an
American since Frank Shorter's 1976 silver medal performance. Remarkably,
only 70 days later, he finished second in New York with a personal best
2:09:53 and proved he is one of the most versatile and dominant runners in
the world today.

"Meb is a great competitor, and he will contend for the victory," said Guy
Morse, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association, which
organizes the marathon. "He is in the top tier internationally, and we are
thrilled John Hancock was able to secure one of America's best male distance
runners to compete at Boston this year."

Also the national record holder in the 10,000m (27:13.98), Keflezighi's
credentials extend beyond the marathon. He won the U.S. 10,000m Olympic
Trials in 2000 and finished 12th in that event in Sydney. He has ranked as
the top American in events including the 5,000m, 10,000m, 12km
cross-country, 15km, and 20km.