'Her courage and spirit inspires us, just as we hope to inspire every
runner, on every run, on every day.'
LEXINGTON, Mass., May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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.
For interviews with Magdalena Lewy Boulet or Saucony executives, please
contact Sharon Barbano at Saucony (617-824-6126),
sharon_barbano@striderite.com or Jeff Lawrence at Mullen (978-468-8945),
jeff.lawrence@mullen.com.
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(R) and Saucony
Originals(R). For more information, go to http://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(TM), Airwalk(R), Dexter(R), Champion(R) and designer
collections Abaete 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(R), Keds(R),
Sperry Top-Sider(R), Robeez(R), and Saucony(R), among others; and
Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and
global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk(R),
Vision Street Wear(R), Lamar(R), Sims(R), LTD(R), genetic(R), Dukes(TM),
Rage(R), Ultra-Wheels(R), and Skate Attack(R). Information about, and links
for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at
http://www.collectivebrands.com.
SOURCE Collective Brands, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.saucony.com
http://www.collectivebrands.com
CONTACT:
Sharon Barbano, Vice President, Public
Relations of Saucony, Inc., +1-617-824-6126,
sharon_barbano@striderite.com; or Jeff Lawrence of Mullen PR,
+1-978-468-8945, jeff.lawrence@mullen.com, for Collective Brands,
Inc.
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