ASICS America Adds Royalty To Its Roster of Track and Field Athletes With Its Signing of Elite Athlete Queen Harrison

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ASICS America welcomes two-time Olympic hurdler, Queen Harrison, to its team of elite athletes. An NCAA champion in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles, Queen's proven track record as an aggressive competitor makes her an important addition to the ASICS athlete family, just two years away from the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Queen finished second in the 100-meter hurdles during the 2014 USA Outdoor Championships and continued to build momentum as the season progressed. Most recently, wearing the ASICS uniform for the first time, Queen took home the win at the Stockholm Diamond League meet on Thursday, August 21 against a strong field. Queen will end her 2014 season at the Zurich Diamond League final on August 28.

"From a very young age, I was attracted to the ASICS brand. In fact, my first pair of spikes I ever owned were a pair of ASICS so I cannot think of a more fitting partner to help support my road to Rio in 2016," Harrison explained. "I am inspired by ASICS' consistent encouragement to push the limits and better their best, and I am proud to have ASICS across my chest as I take on the next level of competition."

With a name like Queen, ASICS' latest addition was destined for greatness. As the youngest member of the 2008 US Olympic team, Queen became the first athlete from the Virginia Tech track and field program to compete in the Olympics. No stranger to breaking new ground, Queen was also the first woman to win both the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 100-meter and 400-meter in the same year. She capped off her collegiate career with track and field's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, the Bowerman Award, which recognized Queen as the top collegiate track and field athlete. In addition to her place in the record books, Queen keeps fans on their toes with her ever-changing do (hair do, that is).

"ASICS is home to running. As a true sport high performance brand, we are proud to welcome Queen Harrison, a true performance hurdler to Team ASICS," said Annie Adams, ASICS America Athlete Manager. "Queen's speed, consistency and passion for the sport epitomize the ASICS way and we look forward to helping Queen continue her reign at the top of her sport and achieve even greater heights."

ASICS America has long been a leader in the performance track and field. For nearly ten years, ASICS has consistently held a top leadership position in the run specialty category. Queen joins an elite group of athletes on ASICS' Track and Field team, including Olympian and five-time USA Outdoor 800-meter champion Alysia Montano, and 2005 World Champion and Olympic gold medal decathlete Bryan Clay and 60-meter hurdles American record holder and Olympian Lolo Jones.

Please visit the following link to see photos and videos of Queen Harrison: http://www.asicsamerica.com/athletes/queen-harrison.

About ASICS
Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body," is an old Latin phrase from which ASICS is derived and the fundamental platform on which the brand still stands. The company was founded more than 60 years ago by Kihachiro Onitsuka and is now a leading designer and manufacturer of running shoes, as well as, other athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.asics.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140827/140625

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131031/SF07845LOGO-b

SOURCE ASICS America