Outdoor Track and Field on Flotrack 2013May 7, 2013 by Christopher Chavez
Erik Sowinski Signs with Nike
Erik Sowinski Signs with Nike
Erik Sowinski changed the ending to the Rocky story. After competing for months without a shoe company sponsor, the indoor 600-meter American record holder has signed a contract with Nike.
Sowinski's rise to fame came in the winter as he stunned spectators by taking down a 600-meter field at the Millrose Games that included Olympians Duane Solomon and Nick Symmonds in an attempt to break the American Record. His time of 1:15.61 did just that in the upset.
Sowinski is no stranger to humble beginnings as he decided to attend Iowa on a "small scholarship." He would go on to set the school records in the indoor 600 (1:16.91) and indoor 800 (1:46.88.) His time would get faster in the 800 as he finished second at the NCAA Championship in 1:45.90.
While also training in Iowa City, the Waukesha, Wis. native has spent 20 to 30 hours a week working at the Running Wild shoe store in recent months. There is no onfirmation as to whether or not he will return to that job with his new contract.
With Solomon and Symmonds looking like locks to make the United States team for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Sowinski looks to be the third member of that 800-meter distance squad.
His goals for the future do not stop there as he has told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel as well as the Iowa athletics website, 2016 is in the back of his mind already.
""I love the sport, I love to compete," Sowinski told Hawkeye Sports. "When you've had success and you still know there's more in the tank, it's hard to step away. I have my eyes set on making the Olympic team in a couple years, that's a big driving force. It also helps having a supportive group of family, friends, and coaches; you know they want you to complete all your endeavors, and they're behind you 100 percent."
Along with friends, family and fans, he now has the swoosh on his uniform to support him in the years leading up to that goal.
Chris Chavez is a journalism major at Marquette University and a contributor for Flotrack. He beat Joey Fatone of NSYNC in a half-marathon. Feel free to follow him on Twitter for more updates and stories.
Sowinski's rise to fame came in the winter as he stunned spectators by taking down a 600-meter field at the Millrose Games that included Olympians Duane Solomon and Nick Symmonds in an attempt to break the American Record. His time of 1:15.61 did just that in the upset.
Paperwork is in the mail! I am extremely excited and humbled to announce that I will be joining team @nike and @nikerunning
— Erik Sowinski (@eSowinski) May 7, 2013
Sowinski is no stranger to humble beginnings as he decided to attend Iowa on a "small scholarship." He would go on to set the school records in the indoor 600 (1:16.91) and indoor 800 (1:46.88.) His time would get faster in the 800 as he finished second at the NCAA Championship in 1:45.90.
While also training in Iowa City, the Waukesha, Wis. native has spent 20 to 30 hours a week working at the Running Wild shoe store in recent months. There is no onfirmation as to whether or not he will return to that job with his new contract.
With Solomon and Symmonds looking like locks to make the United States team for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Sowinski looks to be the third member of that 800-meter distance squad.
His goals for the future do not stop there as he has told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel as well as the Iowa athletics website, 2016 is in the back of his mind already.
""I love the sport, I love to compete," Sowinski told Hawkeye Sports. "When you've had success and you still know there's more in the tank, it's hard to step away. I have my eyes set on making the Olympic team in a couple years, that's a big driving force. It also helps having a supportive group of family, friends, and coaches; you know they want you to complete all your endeavors, and they're behind you 100 percent."
Thanks to everyone for all of your support, it truly means a lot!
— Erik Sowinski (@eSowinski) May 7, 2013
Along with friends, family and fans, he now has the swoosh on his uniform to support him in the years leading up to that goal.
Chris Chavez is a journalism major at Marquette University and a contributor for Flotrack. He beat Joey Fatone of NSYNC in a half-marathon. Feel free to follow him on Twitter for more updates and stories.
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