Seven-time USATF athlete joins brand with
sights set on Paris 10,000m
ROCKFORD, Mich., June 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Saucony, a global performance
running lifestyle brand, has announced that American track and
field athlete Sam Chelanga has signed a professional contract with
the brand. Chelanga, a seven-time USA Track and Field Champion and 2023 Pan Am
Games 10,000m Silver Medalist, was
also a 2016 U.S. Olympic Team alternate for the 10,000m. Originally from Kenya, Chelanga, 39, moved to the United States in 2006 and attended
Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he won four NCAA
titles (5,000m, 10,000m, Cross Country) and set an NCAA
10,000m record. Last fall, Chelanga
ran 2:08.50, the Olympic standard, for 9th place at the
Chicago Marathon, and last week finished 3rd at the Bolder Boulder
10k in 29:22.
"Sam is joining our brand not only as a super-talented and
versatile athlete but also as a great role model; he inspires
others with his hard work, resilience and leadership," said
Ted FitzPatrick, Saucony's vice
president of product and sports marketing. "After a successful 2023
coming off a fresh marathon PR at Chicago, Sam is hitting his stride as he prepares
for the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic
Trials in June in Eugene, OR to
qualify for Paris, and will continue to compete in the World
Marathon Majors. As a Boston-based
brand, we are thrilled that Sam shares our love for Beantown. In
addition to running Boston, he has participated in the B.A.A. Half
four times, the 10K three times and
the 5k twice. His journey continues
to be a testament to the power of perseverance and dedication in
achieving one's dreams. We are excited to welcome Sam to the
Saucony family."
Chelanga is training and racing in the brand's award-winning
Endorphin collection, a line of products designed to enhance
performance and comfort. The collection includes the
Endorphin PRO 4, now with an upgraded dual-cushioning system
of ultra-plush and responsive PWRRUN HG™ directly beneath the foot
and springy PWRRUN PB™ in contact with the ground, delivering a
snappy on-your-toes race day or long-tempo performance. The
Endorphin PRO 4 is available at saucony.com and select
retailers globally, offering athletes the opportunity to experience
the same performance-enhancing technology that Chelanga relies on.
Chelanga is already assisting the product team in building and
testing the future of the Endorphin. Saucony is excited to have one
of America's all-time greats helping to make the future of the
Endorphin even better.
Chelanga became a U.S. citizen in 2015 and, in 2018, joined
the U.S. Army. He and his wife, Marybeth, a qualifier for the
Olympic Trials, have three children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.
About Saucony: Saucony, the 'Original
Running Brand' and a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:
WWW), is a leading global performance running brand that fuses
innovation, style and culture. Widely recognized for award-winning
technologies including PWRRUN™ PB, PWRRUN+™,
and SPEEDROLL™, Saucony creates innovative technical and
lifestyle footwear and apparel across Road, Trail and Originals.
Founded in 1898, Saucony exists to inspire and enable people to
live a better life through running culture, self-expression and
their impact on the world. For more information,
visit www.saucony.com.
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SOURCE Saucony