Hoka announced on Friday that it has signed two of NAU’s top runners, Maggi Congdon and Colin Sahlman, to NIL deals.
This is believed to be the first time that Lumberjack runners have signed NIL contracts with companies other than Adidas, which sponsors the school’s cross country and track and field programs. In the past, Drew Bosley and Nico Young have signed NILs, but both were with Adidas.
Hoka originally was late to the game in NILs, but recently has been quite active. Among its signees is University of New Mexico distance star Habtom Samuel and Colorado’s Kole Mathison.
So, now, NAU has a coach, Mike Smith, who reportedly has signed a deal with Nike to coach a pro team in Flagstaff, and two top runners (especially on the track) with Hoka. It is not known whether Congdon and Sahlman will be able to wear Hoka shoes during races, since the NAU contract is with Adidas.
However, both runners have a big social media presence, and that helps Hoka’s marketing. Also, in many cases, a shoe company has the right to match another’s company’s deal with an athlete who has an NIL for a limited period after the athlete turns pro. It is not known whether that is written into the contracts of Congdon and Sahlman.
— Thursday at the Diamond League Zurich meet, Flagstaff’s Woody Kincaid, coached by Smith, finished fifth in the 3,000 meters in 7:42.7. An outdoor 3,000 is usually not part of Kincaid’s portfolio; he did, however, run 7:40.7 indoors at the New Balance Boston meet in 2023. Thursday’s race was won by Kenya’s JAcob Krop in 7:34.8.
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