Foot Locker announced that Asics America will be the presenting sponsor and official apparel, footwear and accessories provider for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships through 2015.
The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships is the longest running national high school cross country race, as well as the oldest continuing national championship in all of high school sports. The four regional races held in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West bring more than 10,000 of the nation's leading high school runners together for the chance to qualify for the National Finals. The Northeast, Midwest, and South regional races will be held on Saturday, November 30, while the West regional race will take place on Saturday, December 7. The Finals will be held on Saturday, December 14 in San Diego, California.
“Asics has been a valued partner of our Championships for the previous two years, and along with them, we look forward to elevating the experience of this prestigious event for cross country runners throughout the nation,” said Jeanine Zocks, vice president of strategic alliance and events. “We truly appreciate what the Asics brand represents and the first-rate experience they have delivered, and will continue to deliver, to the young runners participating in our meets. We are looking forward to working with them for many years to come.”
The top ten finishers from each seeded regional race qualify for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals.
Northeast
Saturday, November 30
Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, N.Y.
Midwest
Saturday, November 30
Univ. of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, Wisc.
South
Saturday, November 30
McAlpine Park, Charlotte, N.C.
West
Saturday, December 7
Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, Calif.
Finals
Saturday, December 14
Balboa Park, Morley Field, San Diego, Calif.
“Asics was founded on the principle of being the number one brand for sports enthusiasts, through commitment, inspiration and motivation to our athletes,” commented Shannon Scott, director of marketing at Asics America. “Over 60 years later, Asics continues to strive on the same principle, by continuing to create product that delivers the best results for athletes of all ages. We are honored to join forces with Foot Locker over the next three years to sponsor the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships and provide young runners the best tools they need to excel as they grow.”
The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships is a stepping stone for many great runners, including Olympians Ryan Hall, Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher, and 2009 ING New York City Marathon Champion Meb Keflezighi.
“The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships played a huge part in my high school running experience, and provided an elite platform to measure skills against the strongest competitors in the country,” said Olympian and current American marathon record holder Ryan Hall. “It's really great that brands such as Foot Locker and Asics are behind distance running and foster the growth of future runners everywhere.”
