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.
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“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.