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.”