by Larry EderAlexi Pappas is one of my favorite young athletes. She also is someone who can chat about film and art as well as long runs and fartlek. Part of what should be attractive to potential sponsors about Alexi is that she truly is a “renaissance women.”
Nike Oregon Track Club Elite’s Alexi Pappas has started off her spring season by announcing a new partnership with HAWI Management, a full-service athlete representation agency led by Merhawi “Hawi” Keflezighi. Pappas joins an expanding agency roster that includes Meb Keflezighi, Leo Manzano, Maggie Vessey and Kennedy Kithuka.
“I’m so thrilled to be working with HAWI Management,” Pappas said. “Hawi will be an exciting new teammate as I grow as an athlete, and this partnership will only enhance my wonderful relationships with the OTC Elite, Tracktown USA, and Nike, which I am proud to represent.”
Pappas lives and trains in Eugene, Oregon under the direction of Coach Ian Dobson, a 2008 Olympian. Her collegiate career foreshadowed her professional versatility. Pappas earned five all-American certificates in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. She played a pivotal role on two national championship teams at Oregon as the Ducks won the 2012 NCAA cross country title and 2013 NCAA indoor track and field crown. “Simply put, Alexi brings out the best in everyone around her,” said UO women’s distance coach Maurica Powell. Prior to arriving at Oregon, Pappas graduated Magna Cum Laude from Dartmouth in 2012, where she picked up her first two all-American certificates under Coach Mark Coogan, a 1996 Olympian.
In less than two years since joining the professional ranks, Pappas has achieved top-10 finishes in both the 3,000-meter steeplechase (2013, 8th) and 5,000 meters (2014, 7th) at the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She has also performed well in road runs, including the USATF 12K Road Race Championships, Gate River 15K Run and CVS Health Downtown 5K. Most recently, she ran an Olympic standard 32:02.22 in her 10,000m career debut at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
In 2013, she was a podium finisher at the CVS Health Downtown 5K, and in 2013 and 2014 she was a top-five finisher at the Gate River 15K Run. Pappas further demonstrated her road racing talents at the New Balance Falmouth Road Race (top American), Aquafina Butte to Butte 10K (1st place and course record) and the TD Beach to Beacon (32:32 10K road personal best). She also shared her talents by providing pacing duties for U.S. women seeking the 2016 Olympic Trials qualifying standard at the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
In 2013, sportswriter Ken Goe of The Oregonian commented on Alexi’s future in Eugene, “Pappas’ decision to remain in Eugene is a gift to the community in ways that go beyond Track & Field.” Since that time, Pappas has forged many sponsorship and support relationships with locally-based Long’s Meat Market, OG Corner Market, Newman’s Fish Company, Wild Friends Nut Butter, Café Mam, as well as Runa and EnduroPacks. She and partner Jeremy Teicher have also brought their filmmaking talents to Eugene, involving the local community with the filming of their independent feature film, aptly named Tracktown – starring Pappas in the lead role and co-starring Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live) and Andy Buckley (The Office). This film is currently in post-production and follows the success of Alexi and Jeremy’s critically acclaimed first feature film, Tall as the Baobob Tree.
Pappas also writes a monthly column for the Gotracktownusa.com website with stories that give a humorous and insightful look into her growth as an athlete. Pappas has stated that her goal is to “contribute to the sport I love both on and off the track in a meaningful, positive way.” Between her athletic performances, influential creative work and entertaining social media presence, she has become a role model for thousands of young athletes. Pappas is a highly regarded speaker for young audiences, who comprise the majority of her 13,500 Twitter followers (@alexipappas). Linking with HAWI Management brings Pappas into a small group of other transformative athletes who have been guided by the steady hand of Hawi Keflezighi. Pappas’ multi-faceted appeal and already proven creative sponsorship approach aligns with Hawi’s professional experience and strengths.
HAWI Management was created in 2005 to exclusively manage Meb Keflezighi. In recent years, the agency has expanded in conjunction with Hawi Keflezighi’s rising stature within the industry. Besides managing his own athletes, Hawi sits on the Board of Directors of AthleteBIZ and the Track and Field Athletes Association (TFAA) – two organizations committed to the advancement of all professional track and field athletes. Hawi is pleased to partner with Pappas and comments, “It is such an honor to have Alexi choose HAWI Management to manage her professional athletic career. HAWI Management is very selective on the athletes we work with. Our goal is to represent world-class athletes that inspire and motivate everyday athletes and everyday people. We look forward to helping Alexi expand her reach and influence in these communities, and identifying partners that can support these objectives.”
For inquiries concerning Alexi Pappas please contact hawistaff@hawimanagement.com.
