by Larry Eder
Brooks Running Company Jumpstarts 100th Year with a
Clear Focus on the Future of Run, Signing Olympian Nick Symmonds
Brooks welcomes the No. 1 800m runner in the U.S. and deepens its commitment to competitive running
Seattle – Jan. 2, 2014 – Brooks Running Company, the leader in performance run, celebrates the start of its centennial year by solidly investing in the future of the run, adding Olympian Nick Symmonds to its roster of sponsored athletes. Symmonds joins the Brooks Beasts Track Club (TC), a middle distance, Seattle-based training group formed last year by Brooks to set a new standard for racing, team, culture and spirit on and off the track.
“Brooks makes a commitment to support its athletes through the good times and the bad,” said Nick Symmonds, No. 1 800m runner in the U.S. “After visiting the Brooks headquarters and meeting with many employees and my new teammates, I know Brooks and I share similar goals and values.”
With the addition of Symmonds to the Brooks Beasts TC, Brooks continues to build on its unique vision for sponsored athletes, creating training groups where teamwork and culture on and off the track are celebrated as much as individual success and accolades. In addition to the Beasts, the company also sponsors the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project, a training group that has produced two Olympians to date.
“Nick is one of the few athletes who understand that their job is not just to run fast but to use their role as professional runners to inspire others to Run Happy,” said Jesse Williams, head of sports marketing for Brooks Running Company. “In addition to meeting his goals on the track, Nick works tirelessly off the track to put a spotlight on the sport. As a company that is singularly focused on the run, Nick’s vision and passion for running make him a perfect addition to our team.”
Symmonds, who will move from Eugene, Ore., to Seattle, currently holds the year’s fastest time in the country for the 800m distance. Along with his global and national racing experience, he brings many more accolades to the Brooks team, including:
· 800m personal record of 1:42.95
· Ranked No. 2 in the world, No. 1 in the U.S. at 800m
· Third fastest American ever at 800m
· 2-time Olympian, 5th in the 800m run in London, 2012
· 2-time World Championship 800m Finalist, silver medalist in 2013
· 5-time USA Outdoor Champion at 800m
Brooks’ partnership with elite athletes like Symmonds; support of high school and college running teams; national recognition of high school track and cross-country coaches through its Inspiring Coaches program; and sponsorship of top-tier marathons, road races and high school meets like the Brooks PR Invitational and the Mt. Sac Relays showcase the company’s steadfast dedication to running and the future of the sport.
