Linden became the first U.S. winner of the women's Boston Marathon since '85GETTY IMAGES
Boston Marathon winner Desiree Linden helped push Brooks Sports "into the spotlight on a day that has typically been dominated by athletic marketing behemoths Nike and Adidas," according to Mike Buteau of FORBES. Linden is the first U.S. winner of the women's race since '85, and Seattle-based Brooks, a running specialty shoe brand, "didn't waste much time in celebrating" the feat. Brooks' U.S. website as of last night "featured a picture of a rain-drenched Linden -- dressed in a hooded running jacket, gloves, and an ear-covering headband -- with links to shop her 'go-to gear.'" The company also "encouraged her to celebrate with a post-race beer," referencing a comment she made immediately after the race (FORBES.com, 4/17). Meanwhile, in DC, Kelyn Soong asks, "Who in the world is Sarah Sellers?" Yesterday's second-place finisher "wore a nondescript outfit, with no visible sponsors, and crossed the finish line by simply clicking the timer on her watch." The American "doesn’t have an agent, or any sponsors" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/17).
GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL: YAHOO SPORTS' Lindsay Berra reports Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge will “debut the Nike Flyprint, the first-ever 3D-printed performance footwear,” this weekend at the London Marathon. The shoes feature “textile uppers printed specifically to the shape" of Kipchoge’s foot and accounts for "both the specifics of his running stride and his personal preferences.” Nike’s new 3D-printed upper is “made on a printer re-engineered specifically to create shoes for performance, which means a softer, more customizable fit than other 3D running shoes.” Information gathered from 3D scans of Kipchoge’s foot strike over time is “fed into the computer, along with Kipchoge’s personal feedback, to produce an upper that is unique to him.” The shoes will have a stealth, black sole and translucent, shimmery colorway that is “reminiscent of the black, red and green of the Kenyan flag” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/17).
