'Perfect 17' Walt Disney(R) World Marathon Weekend Athletes Recognized and Outfitted Like a Champion(R)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Champion® Athleticwear, the official performance apparel of Disney's Wide World of Sports®, announces the continuation of the Champion Innovation Lab at the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA January 7 - 10, 2010.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/champion/41910/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100107/NY33780 )

The Champion Innovation Lab underscores the brand's heritage in competitive sports while bringing to life its "How You Play" mantra through the experiences of real, everyday athletes. This year, the 2010 Innovation Lab works with nearly half of the "Perfect 17," those who have participated in the Disney Marathon Weekend since its inception 17 years ago, as well as runners, race-walkers and wheelchair athletes from all skill levels, to test Champion Athleticwear.

"True to the Champion brand, we are able to develop great performance apparel by getting real feedback from everyday athletes who participate in our Innovation Lab," said Claire Powell, Director Champion Brand Marketing. "We are excited to bring the program back to the Disney Marathon Weekend for a third year to see how the athletes have responded to our products."

Disney Sports Area Manager, Kathleen Duran returns the sentiment. "The Disney Marathon Weekend is comprised of events that are defined by fun competition, much like the Champion brand. We are thrilled to have some of the "Perfect 17" runners participate in the Champion Innovation Lab program during the Disney Marathon weekend."

Participants are given a variety of Champion performance apparel and, starting in September 2009, asked to catalogue their experiences in a Training Log and share real-time insights with the Champion New York Design Team and Champion Athleticwear Consumer Research. The runners receive apparel from the brand's popular Double Dry® line featuring wicking technology, compression tanks and briefs and athleticwear from the Seamless product line. Questions include pace, weather, route (e.g., trail, street, treadmill), comfort, fit and washing machine care. Runners will also be outfitted in Champion apparel for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend events and will be announced as Champion Innovation Lab participants when crossing the finish line.

"I look forward to the Disney Marathon Weekend every year as well as participating in the Champion Innovation Lab. It's exciting to test out their new products and important to me as an athlete that they are listening to the feedback I have to share," said Dee Dean, marathon runner and Champion Innovation Lab participant.

"Perfect 17" runner and Champion Innovation Lab participant Seth Elsheimer agrees. "It's refreshing to see a brand that has stayed focused on regular, everyday athletes who are competitive as well as those who just want to have a good time and be active."

The two-way dialogue generated by the Champion Innovation Lab has proved to be a critical in keeping the brand grounded in its roots of delivering top performance athleticwear for the everyday athlete.

See the Champion Innovation Lab athletes take on the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on Saturday, January 9th and the full marathon on Sunday, January 10th which will take runners through all four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks starting at Epcot®, continuing on to the Magic Kingdom® Park, Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios(TM) and then back to Epcot® for an exhilarating finish. Visit www.championusa.com and www.disneysports.com more information.

Champion®

Since 1919 Champion athleticwear has offered a full line of innovative athletic apparel for men and women including sport bras, activewear, team uniforms, sweats and accessories. Champion athleticwear can be purchased at most sporting goods and department stores. For more information please contact us at 1-800-999-2249 or visit www.championusa.com. Champion is a brand of Hanesbrands Inc.

About Hanesbrands Inc.

Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE: HBI) is a leading marketer of innerwear, outerwear and hosiery apparel under strong consumer brands, including Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, Just My Size, barely there and Wonderbra. The company designs, manufactures, sources and sells T-shirts, bras, panties, men's underwear, children's underwear, socks, hosiery, casual wear and active wear. Hanesbrands has approximately 45,000 employees in more than 25 countries. More information about Hanesbrands Inc. may be found on the Internet at www.Hanesbrands.com.

Disney Endurance Series

The Endurance Series at Walt Disney World Resort gives recreational athletes of all ages and abilities the chance to walk, jog, run, bike and swim their way "around the world." From marathons to road races to triathlons, athletes from across the country and around the world compete to stay in shape, achieve personal best times and raise donations for charitable causes. Popular Endurance Series events are the Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon (Jan. 6-9, 2011), Champion 5k at ESPN the Weekend (Feb. 27, 2010), Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend (March 5-7, 2010), Expedition Everest Challenge (June 12, 2010) and the inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (Oct. 1-2, 2010).

About Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex

Opened in 1997 at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex is the leading multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States. The sprawling 220-acre state-of-the-art complex features The Milk House, a 165,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,500 for basketball; the 9,500-seat Champion Stadium ballpark; Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; and Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport field house. In addition, the complex has 11 tennis courts, including a stadium court, and a track & field complex. The complex is home to more than 250 amateur and professional sports and entertainment events each year, including the Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves spring training, Pop Warner Super Bowl, Chelsea Football Club events, the Special Olympics Florida Summer Games and AAU National Championship events. Please visit www.disneysports.com for more information.

    Media Contacts:
    Susannah Frank
    Weber Shandwick
    212-445-8437
    [email protected]
    Jennifer Leonard
    Champion Athleticwear
    336-519-6792
    [email protected]

SOURCE Hanesbrands Inc.