SHALANE FLANAGAN JOINS KIMBIA ATHLETICS
America’s Top Distance Runner Begins New Partnership with Boston-based Athletics Management and Media Production Firm
February 22, 2011 -- Olympic Bronze medalist, American record holder, New York City Marathon runner-up, and 15-time NCAA All-American Shalane Flanagan has joined the KIMbia Athletics family, aligning herself with one of the most accomplished athletics management firms in North America, as she prepares for the 2011 World Championships and 2012 Olympic Games. Coming off a second-consecutive national cross country title, Flanagan, with husband and current manager Steve Edwards and KIMbia’s Tom Ratcliffe, announced the new professional partnership, effective immediately. “I have big goals and dreams,” Flanagan explained, “And I believe that with KIMbia’s help and support I have a chance to reach them.”
Managed by Edwards since 2009, Flanagan joins her Oregon Track Club teammates Chris Solinsky, Matt Tegenkamp, Evan Jager, Simon Bairu, Tim Nelson, and Andrew Bumbalough under the KIMbia umbrella; Ratcliffe and Edwards will work jointly to represent the Massachusetts native in the various aspects of her career. With a runner-up finish in New York City further exposing her Olympic-medal-winning talents to a mainstream audience this past fall, Flanagan will benefit particularly from the full weight of KIMbia’s creative and production capabilities, as she continues to pursue the highest achievements in the sport. “KIMbia has a tremendous reputation and years of experience,” Edwards said. “Shalane and I are very excited to be joining the KIMbia family.”
Under Ratcliffe’s direction, KIMbia has represented such athletics stars as world champion and world record holder Daniel Komen; world champion, Olympic silver medalist, and former world record holder Elana Meyer; and, Chicago and London Marathon champion Evans Rutto, among others. The organization continues to be a leader in running multimedia, producing critically-recognized video titles such as chasingKIMBIA, Wisconsin to Worlds, and Rookies Vs the World. Ratcliffe sees Flanagan as a great fit for KIMbia, saying, “Shalane combines world class ability and uncompromising tenacity with a wonderful personality, so we look forward to a long and successful alliance.”
Prior to her cross country triumph in San Diego, the American record-holder (10,000m; indoor 3000m & 5000m) burst to the lead late in last fall’s ING New York City Marathon and eventually placed second -- the best finish by an American woman since 1990 -- thus adding to an already loaded list of personal honors that includes a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Flanagan will take the starting line this evening (February 22nd) in Stockholm to contend the 3000m against a world-class field that includes World Record holder Meseret Defar. In March, she will represent the United States at the 2011 IAAF Cross Country World Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain.
Shalane Flanagan Biography Page on KIMbia.net | http://kimbia.net/athletes/flanagan/
On Shalane's biography page, you will find a volume of information on her career highlights, and recent media coverage. The following is a link to our own posted story regarding the announcement:
http://kimbia.net/?p=1469. As noted above, Flanagan is coming off a National Title at the US Cross Country Championships, and races the 3000m tonight in Stockholm. Shalane holds the American Record in that event and will compete against the World Record holder, Meseret Defar. The race is being billed as a World Record attempt for Defar.
