HOUSTON -- HOKA ONE ONE will expand its support for U.S. middle distance runners by title sponsoring the 2016 HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic, USATF CEO Max Siegel announced Thursday evening at the Opening General Session of the 2015 USATF Annual Meeting.

HOKA ONE ONE will return as title sponsor of the meet, one of the season’s most popular events among athletes and distance-running fans. HOKA’s entitlement of 2015 edition of the meet saw double prize money for athletes and a television-quality webcast on USATF.TV. More than 150,000 viewers tuned in for the live webcast, and videos from the meet have nearly 1.2 million views on USATF.TV.

In addition to prize money and an exceptional webcast, the partnership includes cross-promotion of the event, HOKA branding as part of the webcast, social media promotion, branding and signage.

“We are thrilled that HOKA ONE ONE has extended their commitment to the sport and our athletes,” Siegel said. “We are committed to providing more money and more exposure for U.S. athletes, and that starts with elevating our developmental meets into world-class opportunities. We look forward to a 2016 HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic that is bigger and better than ever as our athletes prepare for Rio.”

“Supporting athletes as they pursue their medal-podium dreams is tied to the brand values of Hoka,” said Wendy Yang, HOKA ONE ONE Brand President. “This meet provides a unique opportunity to engage the sport’s passionate fan base as well. We are committed to the sport of track and field, and look forward to helping to continue its growth.”  

A USATF developmental meet prior to 2015, the 2016 HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic and its webcast will continue to be a part of the USATF Championship Series, USATF’s premier series of international-caliber meets in the United States. Held each May, the meet provides competitive opportunities for elite athletes at distances from 800 through 5,000 meters. Virtually every top American middle-distance runner has competed at the meet in the last quadrennium, including global medalists Leo Manzano, Galen Rupp, Jenny Simpson, Matt Centrowitz, Brenda Martinez, Shannon Rowbury, Chanelle Price and Nick Symmonds, as well as Olympians such as Molly Huddle, Emma Coburn and Morgan Uceny.

About USATF

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.

About HOKA ONE ONE

HOKA ONE ONE is the fastest growing, premium running shoe brand in the world. Two life-long runners launched HOKA in 2009, after years spent handcrafting and shaping lightweight shoes with extra-thick midsoles. Initially embraced by ultrarunners because of their enhanced cushioning and inherent stability, HOKA now offers shoes for all types of runners who enjoy the unique ride the shoes provide. For more information, visit www.hokaoneone.com.