NYC Marathon 5th Placer Allie Kieffer Signs With Oiselle
Press Release
January 10, 2017
Seattle, Washington: Oiselle, a female athletic apparel company, officially signed professional American distance runner and activist, Allie Kieffer. Kieffer joins Oiselle’s elite team alongside Kara Goucher, Lauren Fleshman, Devon Yanko, and Sarah Bard.
Kieffer’s non-traditional path to the professional stage has been a winding road full of triumph and tragedy. A break-out in high school and Foot Locker Nationals finalist in 2004, Kieffer attended Wake Forest University and placed top 10 in seven National Championships. In 2012 she qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 10k, but, plagued by injuries, retired in 2013.
“When I retired, I felt satisfied with what I had achieved and fortunate to walk away happy in a sport where success is generally attached to a constant drive to be better,” said Kieffer. “After several moves since leaving professional running, I noticed a pattern – the people changed, the environment changed, but my love of running remained a constant. I knew I had some unfinished business.”
In 2016, Kieffer self-coached her way to winning the Miami Marathon and setting the female World Indoor Marathon Record. In 2017, she dropped 26-minutes off her personal best placing 5th in the NYC Marathon with a time of 2:29:39.
“Our approach to athlete sponsorships has always been focused on rising stars who have a story to tell,” said Oiselle CEO, Sally Bergesen. “From the day Allie shocked the world and finished as the second American in last year’s NYC Marathon, we knew she had drive and talent. Oiselle is incredibly excited to support Allie as she not only aims to make the Worlds and Olympic Teams, but also talks openly about issues facing many women athletes – from body image to recovering from injury.”
Celebrating its 11th year in business, Oiselle aims to support emerging and elite runners while simultaneously empowering women of all skill levels to claim the athlete identity. Their approach to fashion is focused on applying the principles of natural movement to help female runners identify the athlete within.
“My comeback is two-fold, setting new PRs and rediscovering my love and happiness for running and the community it’s brought into my life” said Kieffer. “I couldn’t be more excited to join the Oiselle family. It was important for me to partner with like-minded individuals who embrace women in sport. I can’t wait to fly together!”