Matt Llano To Run Berlin Marathon
Press Release
September 2, 2015
FLAGSTAFF (AZ), — HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite announced today that Matt Llano will compete at the 2015 BMW Berlin Marathon on September 27.
Berlin will be Llano’s third career marathon. After finishing second at the USATF Marathon Championships in Los Angeles in March, Llano will look to lower his personal best going into the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
“I’ll be running the Berlin Marathon at the perfect time, both in my career as a marathoner as well as in my development toward the Olympic Team Trials in LA next February,” Llano said. “I’ve learned a lot in my previous two marathons, and feel that there is a huge upside to getting a little more experience with an international marathon to prepare me better for the Trials.”
The Berlin Marathon is one of six events in the World Marathon Majors series and stands out as arguably having the fastest course of them all. Seven out of the last ten times that the Men’s World Record has been broken it has been broken on the streets of Berlin. Distance running superstars Wilson Kipsang, Paul Tergat and the great Haile Gebrselassie have all broken the record there. Last year it was up-and-coming Kenyan star, Dennis Kimetto, who became the first man in history to run 26.2 miles under 2:03:00 when he set the current record of 2:02:57 in Berlin.
Llano said he is prepared to take advantage of the fast layout in Berlin.
“I’m not one to shy away from talking about my goals – I want to see 2:09 when I cross the finish line on September 27,” Llano said. “It’s a tall order, but then again, so is making the Olympic Team in 2016.”
HOKA NAZ Elite coach Ben Rosario said he believes Llano is ready.
“This is Matt’s third marathon build-up and it’s been his best by far,” Rosario said. “I am as confident as I’ve ever been about a single race that Matt will run very well in Berlin.”
About Northern Arizona Elite
Northern Arizona Elite is a professional sports team whose mission is to recruit, develop and produce distance runners to compete at the very highest level of international athletics. The team aims to create an interactive global fan base for itself and its athletes through comprehensive and ongoing marketing efforts on a local, national and international level. Current team sponsors include HOKA ONE ONE® and TrainingPeaks®. For more information visit www.nazelite.com or follow @NAZ_Elite.
About the HOKA ONE ONE® brand
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 athletes who enjoy the unique ride the shoes provide. For more information visit www.hokaoneone.com or follow @hokaoneone #hokaoneone.
About Deckers Brands
Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company’s portfolio of brands includes UGG®, Teva®, Sanuk®, Ahnu®, and HOKA ONE ONE®. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, 142 Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has a 40-year history of building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com.