John Hancock Financial has announced an
add and a drop to the John Hancock Elite Athlete Team for the 117th running
of the Boston Marathon on April 15.

Athlete Add: Former Boston Marathon champion Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia,
is a late addition to the field. Merga won the Boston Marathon in 2009
and placed
third in 2010.  He is an All-African gold medalist in the half marathon
and was fourth in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Marathon. In 2012, he
finished second at the New York City Half Marathon in 59:48 and has run
under one hour in the half marathon eight times. This year, he finished
second in the Houston Half Marathon in January and fourth at the Paris
Half Marathon in March. His marathon personal best time is 2:06:38.

Athlete Drop: Guor Marial, a dual citizen of South Sudan and the U.S.,
has dropped due to a foot injury sustained in a recent race. Although he
will be unable to compete this year, the Company has extended an invitation
for him to return next year.
“Missing the Boston Marathon this year is a great disappointment,
but I sincerely thank the Boston Marathon family for giving me that opportunity,”
said Marial. “I am far more excited and motivated to train hard, as
well as stay healthy, for next year’s event. It is my great hope to toe
the starting line next year at the Boston Marathon.”