byLarry Eder
Angela Bizzari, running for Brooks,
courtesy of Brooks Running
We have spoken about this before. Each of the successful, competitive brands in performance running have found their own way to support the sport. While each may have runners that they support, the approach at each one is appropriate to their running culture. Brooks is the example today. This morning, Brooks announced that they would be adding five elite women runners to their sponsored athlete roster. Their top athlete is Angela Bizzari, the 2009 NCAA XC Champ, 2009 NCAA 5,000m champ and 2010 NCAA 3,000m indoor champ.
Brooks is the number two performance running brand in the U.S. It has continued to grow
in 2010, and their unique approach to resonating with the running community, from the Competitor RNR Race series to the Run Happy Calvalcade of Curiousities. The addition
of these five competitive women distance runners gives Brooks another way of reaching
out to young competitive women runners.
Under Sports Marketing manager Jesse Williams, Brooks running is focusing on finding
sponsorships that resonate with their consumer base and also help them find entree into
potential new Brooks users. Brooks also supports, in the sport of running, Hansons Brooks Original Distance Project, and Scott Jurek, US 24 hour record holder, among other sponsorships. The five women mentioned today make a fine addition to the Brooks sports marketing portfolio.
Angela Bizzarri
Leads Group of Five Competitive Female
Runners
Now Partnering with Leading Running Brand
Bothell, WA (August 25, 2010) – Leading running
company Brooks Sports, Inc. (www.brooksrunning.com)
announced today partnerships with five accomplished female runners turning
heads on the professional track. Leading the pack is Angela Bizzarri, 2010 NCAA®
Indoor 3,000 meter champion, 2009 NCAA Outdoor 5,000 meter champion, and 2009
NCAA Cross Country champion.
Bizzarri, a 2010 graduate of the University of Illinois,
broke five school records in 2008 and 2009, and was awarded the 2008 and 2009 Dike
Eddleman Award as the University of Illinois Female Athlete of the Year. Already
making a splash on the professional running scene, she recently placed fifth in
the 2010 USATF National Championships in the 5,000 meter.
“It is such a great honor to join the Brooks
team,” said Bizzarri, age 22. “This
partnership isn’t just about wearing their gear; they’re like a
passionate cheering section rooting for me every step of the way. With
Brooks‘ help, I look forward to taking my running career to a new level
that motivates more people to get out there and Run Happy.”
Bizzarri will keep pace with four more competitive female
runners who joined the Brooks family earlier this summer:
- Katie Follett – Second
place at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships in the 1,500 meter; ran the
fastest collegiate time in the women’s 1,500 meter last spring with
a 4:10.66. - Fawn Dorr – Holds the
school record at Penn State for the 400 meter hurdles; placed fourth in
the 400 meter hurdles at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships. - Gabriele Anderson – Second
place in the 1,500 meter at 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships; seventh place
at the 2010 USATF National Championships in the 5,000 meter. - Shayla Houlihan – 2010
Stanford Invite and Drake Relays 3,000 meter steeplechase champion.
“At Brooks, we’re always looking to partner with
rising stars who match our brand values and inspire other runners to set and
reach for their own goals. These five athletes are doing just that,” said
Jesse Williams, sports marketing manager at Brooks. “We’re excited
to have these women represent Brooks, and to watch and help them develop as
professional runners.”
These five female runners bolster Brooks‘ strategic
and accomplished team of professional athletes. Included in this tight yet
varied group are the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project, triple Ironman
World Champion Chrissie Wellington, and renowned ultra and trail runner Scott
Jurek.
About Brooks
Brooks Sports, Inc. is a leading running company that designs and markets a
line of performance footwear, apparel, and accessories in more than 40 countries
worldwide. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Brooks was founded in 1914
and is headquartered in Bothell, Wash., near Seattle. The company’s
mission is to inspire everyone to run and be active by creating innovative gear
that keeps them running longer, farther, and faster. Visit www.brooksrunning.com for more information, and follow frequent brand updates on
Twitter (@brooksrunning) and Facebook (Brooks Sports).
