Four honorary past champions returning for the events surrounding the 115th Boston Marathon.

Former winners Ron Hill of Great Britain (1970), Alvaro Mejia of Colombia (1971), Rob de Castella of Australia (1986), and Jean Driscoll of the USA (1990-96, 2000) will be honored at the annual Champions’ Breakfast on Saturday, April 16.

“There are very few people who are Boston Marathon champions, and we are delighted to welcome back those who are returning this year,” said Tom Grilk, Executive Director of the B.A.A. “Theirs are achievements that we are proud to have woven into the history of this great race. They honor us with their return.”

In addition to the four honorees at the Champions’ Breakfast, four-time champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, and nine-time wheelchair champion Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa are competing in the Marathon in 2011. This year marks the 10-year anniversaries of their first triumphs.

Defending champions Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, Teyba Erkesso, and Wakako Tsuchida are also expected to be in attendance, where they will be presented with their official Boston Marathon bib numbers for the 2011 race.

Ron Hill, who set the course record with his time of 2:10:30 in 1970, was unable to attend last year on his 40th anniversary because of the volcanic ash cloud that halted European air traffic in the days before the event. Hill has become world-famous for his running accomplishments, including an unmatched streak of running every day since 1964. The Lancashire, England scientist has marathon finisher’s medals from more than 100 countries.

Alvaro Mejia won the title in Boston the following year with a time of 2:18:45. The Colombian Olympian prevailed in a hot day in 1971 with a late kick in the last half-mile. A resident of Bogota, Colombia, the 71-year-old is an active coach.

Rob de Castella earned Boston Marathon glory in 1986 when he became the first athlete to win prize money in race history. With his course-record time of 2:07:51, de Castella took command in the Newton Hills and never looked back. Today, he’s actively involved in helping Aboriginal Australians live healthy lifestyles through the sport of running, one of whom will run in this year’s marathon.

An eight-time champion in the wheelchair division, Jean Driscoll’s record for Boston Marathon victories stood for 10 years until Ernst Van Dyk surpassed her all-time mark last year. Driscoll’s Boston Marathon dominance is highlighted by her 1994 performance in which she set the current course and world record with a time of 1:34:22.

Allison Roe, who won the 1981 Boston Marathon, was invited to be honored this year, as well. Because of the devastation caused by an earthquake in her native country of New Zealand, she declined, but expressed her intention to return and participate in 2012.

The 2011 Boston Marathon also marks the 100th anniversary of Clarence DeMar’s first Boston Marathon victory. DeMar finished in 1911 with a time of 2:21:39, and went on to win seven Boston Marathons.

Many other Boston Marathon champions, legends, pioneers, and significant figures in race history also will be in town during race week, participating in a number of ways at various events.