ASICS Athletes Had Great Week, release, note by Larry Eder

ASICS' ATHLETES HAVE WINNING WEEK

Runners Deena Kastor and Sara Hall, U.S. Women's Field Hockey Team and U.S. Wrestlers Clinch Victories

It was a big week across many sports for ASICS' athletes with a half marathon, 3,000-meter steeplechase, field hockey and wrestling triumphs.

ASICS' Olympic Medalist and American marathon and half marathon record holder, Deena Kastor, dominated the field and was a clear favorite at Sunday's Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon. Kastor won the women's division with a time of 1:11:48.

This is Kastor's second half marathon win since giving birth to her daughter Piper Bloom in February 2011. She won the Dodge Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon on October 2 in 1:12:23. Kastor, who lives and trains in Mammoth Lakes, is preparing for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trial, January 14, in Houston, Texas, where she'll vie for a spot to represent the U.S. Team in the 2012 Games.  Kastor has represented the U.S. Team in three Olympic Games (2000, 2004 and 2008) including her bronze medal win at the 2004 Athens Games.

On Friday, ASICS' athlete Sara Hall claimed the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase win at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in 10:03.16. She was near the front of the pack for most of the race and had a comfortable lead as she got over the last obstacle and entered the final 100 meters. Hall started focusing her efforts on 3,000-meter races about a year ago instead of 1,500 and 5,000 meters.  The race was exactly what both Hall and her coach were hoping for in terms of a competitive effort.

Also on Friday, the ASICS sponsored U.S. Women's Field Hockey Team took home one of its biggest triumphs in a 4-2 victory over defending World Champions Argentina in the gold medal game at the Pan American Games. The victory automatically qualifies the U.S. for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

On October 23, five ASICS wrestlers took home gold medals at the Pan American Games. Jordan Burroughs (74 kg/163 lbs) earned his fifth consecutive title win in 2011, winning the NCAA Championships, U.S. Open, U.S. World Team Trials, World Championships and the Pan American Games, respectively.  Jake Herbert (84 kg/185 lbs), Jake Varner (96 kg/211.5 lbs) and Tervel Dlagnev (120 kg/264.5 lbs) also won gold medals for the ASICS team. Competing in women's freestyle, Helen Maroulis (55 kg/121 lbs) took home gold.

 "It was a very successful week for ASICS' athletes," says ASICS Vice President of Marketing Erik Forsell. "We are excited to be coming upon an Olympic year and to see great results from our prestigious athlete roster."