NEW BALANCE JOINS CREDIT UNION CHERRY BLOSSOM TEN MILE RUN AS SPONSOR
By David Monti
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission

(01-Dec) -- Shoe and apparel company New Balance has joined the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in Washington, D.C.,  as a supporting sponsor and the presenting sponsor of the event's virtual training program, race director Phil Stewart announced yesterday.

"We welcome New Balance as a new partner in the event," Stewart said through a media release.  "As a global manufacturer of some of the best-rated running product in the industry, and a brand with a history of domestic manufacturing, New Balance is a perfect fit for our event, which is held on the National Mall among all of the National Monuments and Memorials."

"The Cherry Blossom," as it is widely known amongst runners, is one of America's largest and fastest 10 mile road races.  Held in April in when Washington's cherry trees are in full bloom, the race recorded 15,694 finishers in 2010.  The fastest times on the course are 45:38 by Ismael Kirui in 1995 and 51:16 by Colleen De Reuck in 1998.

This is the second major sponsorship announcement involving New Balance in recent weeks.  The Boston-based company will also assume the title sponsorship of the Falmouth Road Race next August.

"New Balance is excited to become a sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, a race rich in history and tradition in our nation's capital," commented Josh Rowe, running marketing manager at New Balance who had a long career at Nike before joining New Balance last year.  "This race attracts both elite and everyday runners and thus is an excellent opportunity to for us to highlight our innovative footwear, apparel, and unique brand attributes to runners of all abilities."

Organizers will accept requests for entries over a ten-day period beginning today, Dec. 1, then a lottery will be conducted to choose the runners who will participate.  More details about the Sunday, April 3, event can be found at the event website: http://www.cherryblossom.org.

ENDS