Paul Merca visited the Hyperion House (Brooks’ home away from home) for RunBlogRun and shared this story with us! Special thanks to the Brooks comms team for quotes and photos!
GEORGETOWN’S PARKER STOKES JOINS THE BROOKS BEASTS, WHILE UW’S CHLOE FOERSTER AND TEXAS A&M’S SAM WHITMARSH SIGN NIL DEALS…
EUGENE–Seattle-based Brooks Running announced Thursday that Georgetown graduate Parker Stokes is the latest addition to the Brooks Beasts roster.
Stokes is a two-time All-American in the steeplechase, a seven-time Big East champion at various distances, and ran 8:24.58 to win the NCAA title in the steeple at Hayward Field on June 7th.
Stokes placed tenth in his heat last Friday in the steeple semifinals in 8:33.63 but did not advance to the finals on Sunday.
Two years ago, he set his best in the 8:18.88 event at the NCAA championships here in Eugene, where he finished third.
“Parker is a deeply talented athlete who brings great speed to the steeplechase. Beyond his athletic talent, Parker’s glass-half-full approach aligns with our team values and makes him a runner you can’t help but root for,” said Derek Lactaoen, Brooks Beasts Marketing Manager. “We’re really excited to have him join the Beasts and know he has a bright future ahead of him.”
“I’m humbled and pumped to run on the next level with the Brooks Beasts. Their longstanding status of creating world-class runners is unmatched,” Stokes said in a company release. “I can’t wait to be a part of that squad and to make a global impact on the running world.”
Stokes joins Washington alum Luke Houser and Rider grad Teagan Schein-Becker as the newest additions to the Beasts roster, including reigning world 1500-meter champ Josh Kerr and two-time national champ and 2024 Olympian Nia Akins.
Brooks also announced that Washington’s Chloe Foerster has signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with the company before Thursday’s first round in the women’s 1500.
Foerster, a native of Portland, Oregon, was the Pac-12 champ in the 1500 and set a personal best of 4:06.96 earlier in the spring at the Bryan Clay meet in Azusa, California.
“I’m very excited to be joining the Brooks team as an NIL athlete! The brand is helping me chase my dreams, and I am so grateful for its support,” said Chloe. “I love what Brooks stands for, and I can’t wait to continue to grow with them by my side.”
“We’re thrilled to bring Chloe onto the Brooks team! She’s shown tremendous growth as a competitor on the track only a couple years into college and brings a great mentality to the way she approaches racing, said Garrett Heath, head of Sports Marketing.
Brooks also signed Texas A&M 800-meter runner Sam Whitmarsh to an NIL deal. Whitmarsh was one of the breakout stars of the event this season, improving from 1:46.09 in 2022 as a freshman to 1:44.46 earlier this season.
Whitmarsh, a native of Lake Jackson, Texas, was second in the NCAA 800.
“I’m absolutely stoked to partner with Brooks! Their dedication on and off the track is inspiring and stood out to me as an athlete,” said Sam. “I really value the opportunities Brooks provides for community involvement, and I’m excited to dive into them as I continue my collegiate career. I’m beyond grateful to join the family, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Sam to the Brooks family. Anyone who has seen him compete on the track knows what an incredible athlete he is and the energy he brings to racing. Still, he is just as inspiring with his personality and passion off the track,” said – Garrett Heath, Head of Sports Marketing. “His values and goals align well with the Brooks brand, and we look forward to supporting him as he chases his dreams at the Olympic Trials this week and beyond.”
