by Larry EderThis was just a matter of time! Magdalena was embraced by the media at the Olympic Trials press conference. After the conference, at least two vice presidents of marketing were standing with press, trying to get to Magdalena. One of them was Saucony VP, Sharon Barbano.
Lewy Boulet’s story, about becoming an American citizen, her brave race, and her determination ring true with sports fans who see the Olympics as the ultimate in sporting events.
SAUCONY SIGNS MAGDALENA LEWY BOULET, U.S. OLYMPIC BOUND MARATHONER
“Her courage and spirit inspires us, just as we hope to inspire every runner, on every run, on every day.â€
LEXINGTON, MA (May 20th, 2008) – Amplifying the brand’s performance platform, Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS), and a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel, today announced the signing of Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet to a multi-year endorsement contract. Lewy Boulet earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team by finishing second in the 2008 U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials held in Boston on April 20th. Leading for much of the 26.2-mile race, she finished in a personal-best time of 2 hours, 30 minutes, 19 seconds. Lewy Boulet, 34, and a native of Poland, will represent the United States at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games this summer.
“I am so excited to join the Saucony family and to have the privilege and opportunity to represent the United States at the Olympics,†said Lewy Boulet. “From the quality of the product to the Run For Good Foundation, I feel that Saucony and I are a great fit, and I’m looking forward to a long and lasting partnership,†she added.
“Magdalena embodies the spirit of Saucony,†said Richie Woodworth, president of Saucony. “Making the U.S. Olympic team with such a confident and bold race from the front is a testament to her strong will and competitive spirit. We look forward to a strong and enduring partnership with Magdalena, on and off the race course. Her spirit and courage inspires us, just as we hope to inspire every runner, on every run, on every day,†said Woodworth.
Two weeks before the 2008 U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, Lewy Boulet, ran a personal best on the track, racing to a third-place finish in the 10,000 meters at Stanford, clocking 32:33, an Olympic Trials “A†standard qualifying time. Lewy Boulet will compete in the 10,000 meter final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon in July, prior to running the Olympic Marathon in Beijing on August 17th.
“Everyone at Saucony is very excited that Magdalena is joining our family of athletes, which includes Olympic hopefuls Molly Huddle (10,000 meters); Alicia Shay (10,000 meters); and Gabe Jennings (1,500 meters), among others,†said Woodworth. “Saucony will be supporting these courageous runners every step of the way, in Eugene and Beijing, as they strive to achieve their very best,†he added.
Lewy Boulet was touted as a strong contender to make the 2004 U.S. Olympic marathon team. She missed out, but ran a solid race in the 2004 Trials in St. Louis and was the second alternate with her fifth place finish. Prior to the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials, she had not run a marathon since she qualified at the ING New York City Marathon two years ago in a time of 2 hours, 42 minutes, 38 seconds.
Lewy Boulet became a U.S. citizen on the morning of September 11, 2001. She earned her bachelor’s degree in human biodynamics from U.C. Berkley in 1997 and a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Cal State Hayward. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband Richie, one of the United States’ best milers in the 1990s, and their three-year-old son Owen. In 2003, Lewy Boulet returned to her alma mater as a coach for the Golden Bear cross country program, where she has been ever since.
Lewy Boulet is coached by Jack Daniels, Ph.D., a world-renowned authority on distance running and currently the Head Distance Coach at the Center for High Altitude Training at Northern Arizona University.
About Saucony, Inc.: Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc., is a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony and Saucony Originals. For more information, go to www.saucony.com.
About Collective Brands, Inc.: Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its more than 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands American Eagle™, Airwalk®, Dexter®, Champion® and designer collections Abaeté for Payless, Lela Rose for Payless and alice + olivia for Payless, among others; Stride Rite, focused on lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and high-quality children’s footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Lamar®, Sims®, LTD®, genetic®, Dukes™, Rage®, Ultra-Wheels®, and Skate Attack®. Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand’s units can be found at http://www.collectivebrands.com.
