by RBR Admin
In an embargoed press release, until 3 PM Eastern time today, ASICS announced that Fred Kerley, 2022 World Champion at 100 meters, 2021 Olympic silver medalist at 100 meters, has just signed a new contract with ASICS, one of the largest and most iconic footwear and apparel brands in the world. Founded in 1948, ASICS has built iconic shoes in running and many other sports.
ASICS is the global sponsor of footwear and apparel in World Athletics, having added another ten years to the sponsorship. Recently, ASICS signed Joseph Fahnbulleh and Benjamin Azmati, two top global sprinters.
Fred Kerley’s signing with ASICS shows ASICS’s desire to grow their global track and field roster and presence. Fred Kerley is in Australia, where he will compete for ASICS in the Maurie Plant Meeting, on February 23. The Maurie Plant meeting is being held in honor of Maurie Plant, who passed away in 2020, Mauria had been an influential coach, broadcaster, mentor, and advisor to many in Australia and beyond.
Kerley bolsters ASICS’ growing global track and field roster that includes the recent signing of sprinters Joseph Fahnbulleh and Benjamin Azamati
[February 20, 2023 – BOSTON, MA] – ASICS is excited to announce the signing of Fred Kerley as the brand’s newest athlete ambassador. The 27-year-old is one of the top sprinters in the world, with a growing list of medals and achievements in his young career. Most recent, and notably, Kerley won his first individual World Championship Gold Medal in the 100m race at last year’s World Athletics Championships Oregon22.
Growing up, Kerley was a multi-sport athlete all the way through high school. He was a member of the football, basketball, and track teams before specializing in track and field during his collegiate career at both South Plains College and Texas A&M University. In his final year at Texas A&M, he won the USATF 400m title, and NCAA Indoor & Outdoor 400m titles and set a new NCAA 400m record. After racing in the 400m during his first years as a professional, Kerley opted to transition to the 100m and 200m distances in 2020.
As a specialist in those three distances, Kerley touts the accolade of being one of just three men in the world to have registered sub-10 seconds in the 100m, sub-20 seconds in the 200m, and sub-44 seconds in the 400m and the only man in history to run sub-9.80 seconds in the 100m, sub-19.80 seconds in the 200m and sub-43.80 seconds in the 400m. In addition to his World Championship title in the 100m, Kerley also claimed a Silver Medal in that distance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“I am excited to join the ASICS athlete roster and compete on behalf of the brand as one of the top sprinters in the world,” said Fred Kerley. “Ultimately, I hope to inspire more kids to participate in track and field. Partnering with ASICS will only help as we collectively aim to grow the sport into the future.”
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July15-26, 2022
100 meters qualifying, Kerley, USA
Thus far during his professional career, Kerley has won medals at track and field’s most prestigious and competitive events. He has amassed four World Championships medals across individual and team events (100m Gold at Oregon22, 4x400m relay Gold and 400m Bronze at Doha 2019, and lastly, 4x400m relay Silver at London 2017), an Olympic Silver Medal (100m in Tokyo) and two Diamond League Titles (400m in 2018 and 100m in 2021).
“Fred is a world-class talent and an athlete that truly represents the ethos of the ASICS brand,” said Ben Cesar, Director of Sports Marketing at ASICS North America. “We hope our partnership with Fred will help elevate ASICS’ product offering for athletes both on-and-off the track.”
In addition to the brand’s support for athletes around the world, ASICS is also a proud long-term partner of World Athletics. In 2019, ASICS and World Athletics extended their partnership with a new 10-year agreement. As an Official Partner, ASICS will be involved in all World Athletics Series events through 2029, including this year’s World Athletics Championships Budapest 23.
