Boris Berian
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
December 19, 1992 Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Residence | Big Bear Lake, California |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 157 lb (71 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and Field |
| Event(s) | Middle distance |
| College team | Adams State University |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) |
400 meters: 46.93[1] 800 meters: 1:43.34[1] |
Medal record
| |
| Updated on August 14, 2016. | |
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Boris Berian (born December 19, 1992) is an American middle distance runner. He was the 2016 National champion and represented the United States at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 800 meters where he won the gold medal. He set his indoor best winning the world championships at 1:45.87, boldly front running a sub-50 first 400. Outdoors he set his personal best 1:43.34 at the 2015 Herculis meet. In his collegiate career, Berian ran for Adams State University, where he was coached by Joe Vigil. Barely a year before the Hercules meet, Berian was working in a Colorado Springs McDonalds as a college dropout, still trying to train after working the morning shift.
Running career
High school
Berian, a Colorado Springs native, attended Widefield High School, where he graduated in 2011. During high school, he ran all the sprinting events, and also occasionally ran the 800 meters. Berian was the Colorado state champion two years a row at 400 meters[2] and recorded high school personal bests of 46.9 for 400 meters and 1:52 for 800 meters.
“. . . the kid had run a 46.9 400 in high school. That’s pretty much professional. I liked his speed, because you have to be born with speed. We can develop strength. Boris was born at altitude, 6,100 feet, and went to school at Adams State which is at 7,500 feet, Big Bear is at 6,700 feet. He’s lived his whole life at altitude. I saw this as a huge positive. No other 800 runner in this country lives and trains at altitude. People think altitude makes you slow, but 99.9% of the World and Olympic champions live and train at altitude. It gives you an advantage like the East Africans.”— Carlos Handler[3]
Collegiate
While running at Adams State, he won both the 2012 NCAA Men's Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships and NCAA Men's Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at 800 meters. His wins helped the team win the outdoor championship and was runner up indoors. Adams State coach Joe Vigil recommended Berian to the Big Bear Track Club, a small track club formed by Carlos Handler around another aspiring unheralded former collegiate athlete, his wife, Brenda Martinez. In that year of training he improved to become the #5 American 800 meter runner of all time.
Endorsement controversy
In early 2016, Berian received an offer sheet from New Balance with terms he found agreeable. Berian's contract with Nike had expired on 12/31/15 but Nike retained the right to match a competitor's term sheet for 180 days. Nike indicated that they would match the New Balance offer and then sued him for breach of contract when he wouldn't sign with Nike. Berian argued that Nike failed to match the New Balance offer; both Nike and New Balance offered him $125,000 per year for three years, but the Nike offer included large reductions if Berian failed to meet expectations, while the New Balance offer contained no such reductions. Nike claimed they were prepared to fully match the New Balance contract but Berian's agent, Merhawi Keflezighi, did not communicate its terms to them adequately.[4][5] In early June 2016, Portland district judge Marco Hernandez approved Nike's request to temporarily prohibit Berian from competing in New Balance gear.[6] Nike's claims that reductions were an industry standard were contradicted by several of its rivals, including Oiselle, Brooks and New Balance.[7] Hernandez was expected to make his next ruling on the matter after a hearing on June 21, but decided to delay it for a week; he did not extend the injunction against Berian competing in New Balance gear, which expired, and his comments in court indicated he felt that Nike had failed to match the New Balance offer. Nike, which had received negative publicity as a result of the controversy, dropped the lawsuit at that point.[7][8][9]
References
- 1 2 All-Athletics. "Profile of Boris Berian".
- ↑ Aaron Reiss. The Gazette: Widefield grad Boris Berian has re-emerged as a threat in the 800 heading into outdoor track and field nationals. June 24, 2015.
- ↑ http://fittish.deadspin.com/how-a-tiny-track-club-and-an-implausible-runner-conquer-1712584681
- ↑ Barker, Sarah (June 23, 2016). "Boris Berian's Legal Fight Against Nike Could Change Track And Field Forever". Deadspin. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Decision On Temporary Injunction Delayed To Wednesday June 29th After Boris Berian And Nike Square Off In Court In Portland". LetsRun. June 22, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ↑ Petty, Daniel (June 5, 2016). "Colorado Springs track star Boris Berian can compete — but must wear Nike gear". Denver Post. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- 1 2 Germano, Sara (June 23, 2016). "Nike Drops Lawsuit Against Olympic Hopeful Boris Berian". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ↑ Manning, Jeff (June 23, 2016). "Nike, facing skeptical judge, drops endorsement lawsuit against Berian". OregonLive. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ↑ Reid, Scott M. (June 23, 2016). "Nike drops breach of contract lawsuit against runner Boris Berian". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
External links
- Boris Berian profile at IAAF
