ASICS has officially made its mark on the east coast and in the middle distance community as the running shoe company has signed a one-year sponsorship deal with South Carolina-based group Furman Elite. 

 

"We are very excited about this relationship with ASICS; we now feel like we can compete with the rest of the groups throughout the country for national team spots,” Furman Elite Head Coach Robert Gary said. 
 

 

Gary, also the head coach of the Furman University cross country and track programs, coaches the elite group of middle-distance athletes based out of Greenville, South Carolina. The nonprofit organization offers coaching services, housing, a campus meal plan, physiotherapy, travel stipend, access to altitude and training facilities, a coaching mentorship program, and equipment and gear now provided by ASICS to its elite athletes. It is a diverse group comprised of a team from all corners of the world. 

 

Furman Elite includes 2015 Pan American Games bronze medalist Cory Leslie, 2015 USATF steeplechase finalist Craig Forys, Australian 1500m National Champion Heidi See, former UNC standout Isaac Presson, 2015 USATF 5K finalist Jeff See, 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier Melissa Salerno, 2015 World Championships qualifier Stephanie Garcia, and former Furman University standout Wilkerson Given. 

 

As the RunFurman website states, the mission of the post-collegiate club is to “provide continuing support to America’s best distance prospects. RunFurman is about building an environment where life lessons are learned though athletic success.”

 

For ASICS, Furman Elite perfectly fit the brand’s goal of reaching the middle distance community in a big way. 

 

“We’re super excited to partner with Furman Elite. It will add major depth to the ASICS elite line-up. We will see a great balance with Mammoth Track Club on the west coast and Furman Elite on the east coast to provide our athletes with access to more top tier training centers and coaches,” ASICS Sports Marketing Athlete Manager Anthony Herr said. 

 

ASICS signed a title sponsorship deal with the Mammoth Track Club in the spring of 2014. The California-based group is led by Head Coach Andrew Kastor and his wife, Olympic marathon medalist Deena Kastor. The group focuses on marathon and half-marathon training development. 

 

In recent years, ASICS has been making moves within the middle distance community, notably with 1500m and 800m athlete signings like Heather Kampf and Alysia Montano. Furman Elite will be the first middle distance-focused group under an ASICS sponsorship deal. 

 

“A lot of kids look at the mile, and look up to all the mid-distance pros. Outside the 100m, the next most-watched event is the mile, so we needed to get on the track….with Furman Elite and this sponsorship, this gets us on the track,” Herr explained. 

 

“They’re [Furman Elite] a young team, but they’re making noise,” Herr said.