NAZ Elite - Major Changes Coming in 2025

TLDR: 8 athletes being cut (essentially everyone over 28 years old) + Ben Rosario leaving

Standard business move after an Olympic year. Cut athletes that likely won’t factor into the run up for 2028 and bring in young talent that could grab headlines. McManus has been around a longtime and knows what he is going.

Aside from signing the Culpeppers, hopefully.

Here's Ben Rosario's statement:

benrosario.com

Ben Rosario leaves HOKA NAZ Elite. — Ben Rosario

Ben Rosario

Ben Rosario announces departure from HOKA NAZ Elite.

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I enjoyed the content NAZ & Rosario produced over the years. I get that some of the older athletes are unhappy about being let go, but that is the industry.

Yeah, I've been a fan of Rosario and NAZ Elite with him part of it. His connection to and influence from Hansons was part of that. He seemingly made lemonade from the lemon situation that McMillan left behind. Wish him the best going forward with his next endeavors, but I've honestly been indifferent to NAZ Elite for a while now.

I'm surprised many of that team kept their pro cards for so long.
They're pretty anonymous outside of the couple of races they show up to each year.
The NYC/Boston/Chicago ferris wheel gets boring year on year. Hang on the back of the pack until halfway then get dropped.

Brands like Hoka (all brands actually) need athletes that connect to their target consumer and the next generation.

Not sure what value some of those moody, angry sub-elite pros provided the last years of their contracts? They had their fair shot and time seems up.

It's clear that not all pro's can make the Olympics, podiums or national medals.

However it's wild to see talent that do resonate with the next generation like Morgan Pearson go un-sponsored while beating up these NAZ type athletes.

As a company and group, wouldn’t you wanna, I dunno, sign some new athletes when you’re cutting over 1/3 of your roster? They signed like 2 people this year but are losing 8.

As Kellyn Taylor said, they’re just cutting the older people, which is basically all of the group’s marathoners aside from Alice Wright (who hasn’t really turned any heads as a pro). And how in the world does somebody like Nick Hauger still have a contract when they’re dropping Futsum, who ran 2:09 last year?

every running team/shoe company is positioning themselves to represent at the 2028 Olympics in LA. unless you have a legit chance of making an Olympic team in 4 years its gonna get really cutthroat for older runners.

its also apparent in recent years NAZ Elite has been getting away from marathoners and investing in more track runners. Colin Sahlman recently signed an NIL deal with Hoka, when he's done at NAU he'll have 2 years until the Olympics. i'm sure HOKA would LOVE for him to keep him wearing their brand once he goes pro.

Back when the road race circuit was more popular- TV, real coverage, a circuit of races, athletes like this and ZAP and Minnesota, would be valuable.

I remember intermingling with the top runners at the after party prior to and after the awards ceremony.

People who were top runners but were never going to make a national team or podium.

Maybe investing more in NIL?

Most other brands seem to be signing deals like crazy.

Contracts typically have obligations for both parties. A performance like 2:09 isn't automatically going to be rewarded in and of itself, not in 2024. Just ask Noah Droddy. Running fast isn't the only or even main value to a sponsor anymore.

Curious about Krissy Gear. Her Insta profile used to reference NAZ Elite but now only Hoka.

Also not related to this directly but more Flagstaff news - seems that Elly Henes is no longer with Mike Smith but possibly back with her mom.

These elite shoe pro teams are on the green mile. They served their purpose 10 years ago to get American distance running back to the level and created a nice transition for the pre social media generation to get more exposure, but now that’s all changed. Athletes can connect with other athletes for training anywhere in the world, and reap the benefits of having their “own” brand. This is an individual sport and at the highest level takes individual specificity. And these teams are expensive to operate with the bulk of the funds going to the middle-of-the- packers who demand and soak up all the resources.

The article only names 6 cuts. Does anyone know the other 2?

The group started as an American/North American marathon group and now appears to be anything but what its original branding was.

Many people who Rosario coached (at some point) have had relatively good success: Fauble, Scott Smith, Hehir, Linkletter, Futsum.

Elly, Katelyn Tuohy, Hannah Steelman, and Sam Bush have formed a little running group back in Raleigh. they'll still go to Flag occasionally for altitude training, they just won't live there full time.

NAZ elite should have made changes a long time ago. Why were they keeping 2:24 and 2:25 women's marathoners on their team? They need to attract more talent. Or they need to develop their athletes better. Hoka actually gives them A TON of support, there is no excuse why they aren't better.

Morgan Pearson doesn’t need sponsorship.

I think folks are starting to realize living in Flag full-time as post-collegiate is not what it's cracked up to be. It sort of sucks there tbh. Most athletes over time just get worn down living that high and the air quality is pretty atrocious with the dust and fires.