Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you for your resolutions or give you mine. I'll save that for a later post!
With the new year, comes more changes to the Team Nutrilite family. Specifically, with the end of a decade, we also see the end of a great, three year partnership with Jenn Stuczynski and Track & Field events in the U.S.
When Nutrilite decided to sponsor Jenn Stuczynski, her name wasn't synonymous with pole vaulting. We took a chance on each other. As partners, Jenn has gone on to set American records in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault for women, is the only American woman to ever clear 16 feet, is the second-best female pole vaulter of all time, is a four-time indoor and outdoor USA Champion, and an Olympic Silver Medalist.
It is with tremendous gratitude and respect that we announce the end of our relationship with Jenn. She was a tireless worker on behalf of Nutrilite, appearing in national television advertising for NUTRILITE Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables, and making countless appearances signing autographs at NUTRILITE-sponsored events for fans and IBOs alike, as well as attending IBO-only events during her time as a sponsored athlete. Her belief in and advocacy of the brand was evident whenever she made appearances on our behalf and for that, we thank her.
Nutrilite will also end our sponsorships of major track and field events, including the Boston Indoor Games, Tyson Invitational, adidas Track Classic, Reebok Grand Prix, and the Prefontaine Classic.
The 2010 focus is very firmly on our relationships with the Rock 'n Roll Marathons as well as the Phytonutrient Campaign that kicked off last October.
Please join us in a HUGE, heartfelt thank you to Jenn, her coach, her agent and the folks that put on these world-class events for their time and tireless support of Nutrilite's efforts in the sport.
Okay, so it's not so live anymore thanks to technical issues… but I did capture these thoughts live at the Nutrilite sponsored Reebok Grand Prix held on Randall's Island in New York City this past weekend.
We had a picture perfect day for educating over ten thousand consumers about the Nutrilite brand. It was sunny and warm with a pleasant breeze and the crowd was steady and heavy from noon until well after the gates were opened for the main event.
The Nutrilite tent was brimming with people excited to try our samples and learn more about the brand. The rocket packs – as they always are – were a tremendous hit, offering cool, thirst-quenching grape sports drink to old and young alike. Inside the booth, eager consumers received a Nutrilite track bag, a branded, exclusively designed event t-shirt, and noise-making thunder sticks.
Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables and Rhodiola sample cards were a huge hit, as were the ROC2O Antioxidant Enhanced Stick Packs. But the show-stealer's were the sports drink and the peanut butter pretzel and chocolate nut roll energy bars. Attendees were heard raving about the drink and bars even after the meet started and the rocket packs roamed the concourse throughout the event.
As for the meet itself, well, it was another solid showing for Jenn Stuczynski, Nutrilite's pole vaulter extraordinaire. Jenn easily whipped all contenders with a nice 4.81m (15 feet, 9 and 1/4 inch for the metrically challenged) and made some great attempts at her own American record. Had the wind stayed firmly at her back instead of crossing and swirling a bit, my gut says she would have made the 4.93m (16 feet, 2 inches) she was trying to clear.
In the end, she didn't quite make it, but her 4.81 was the highest in the world so far this year.
After her victory, Jenn spent some time with VIPs in the Nutrilite VIP area, high above the track (what a great bird's eye view of the festivities by the way) and then took 45 minutes with the crowd in a tent on the concourse. She interacted with kids, prospective vaulters and adults alike, once again representing the Nutrilite brand with class.
The rest of the event was a thrill to be a part of as well. Tyson Gay turned in one of the fastest 200m times ever and several other events went to the wire.
Be sure to check us out this coming Sunday as we are on the road with the Nutrilite mobile brand experience for our final Track & Field event of the season – the Prefontaine Classic. The Pre will be seen live, this Sunday on NBC, from 2 to 4 EDT. Our own Sanya Richards will be running in what looks to be a fantastic 400m field.
Just back to the hotel after spending six hours setting up the Nutrilite tent, autograph and VIP area for tomorrow's Reebok Grand Prix.
This is my first outdoor event and I love it already. The venue – Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in New York City – is fabulous. The rain that kept us layered in clouds all day yesterday and this morning has lifted and bright sunshine is the forecast.
We should see one of the best collective U.S. meets in years, with the likes of world champion Tyson Gay, Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, Olympic silver medalists Jenn Stuczynski and Richard Thompson, former World Champion Lauryn Williams and Sweden's Olympic gold medalist Carolina Klüft in town to compete. So too is Asafa Powell, former world record holder and still one of the fastest men in the world.
Three-time defending pole vault champion at the Reebok Grand Prix Jenn Stuczynski is looking to push herself even further this weekend. “With my training and the way I’ve been jumping,” said Stuczynski, “I hope to get over 5 meters this year.” The Fredonia, New York native will also have lots of crowd support. “A lot of my family and friends are coming down to watch on Saturday,” added Stuczynski.
Look for a "live from the RGP" post complete with photos later tomorrow. And for those who cannot catch this event in person, be sure to watch it live on NBC from 4:30 to 6.
Nutrilite, the world's leading brand of vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements is once again a proud sponsor of the upcoming Reebok Grand Prix on Randall's Island, NY.
The event kicks off with some of the finest high school athletes in the area competing in various events at 1pm and gets into full swing with live TV coverage (NBC) at 4:30pm.
Nutrilite's own, Jenn Stuczynski, will be competing in the event, along with many of the other elite track and field athletes from around the world. Jenn will also be signing autographs in both the IBO VIP area as well as for the general attendees.
Consumers will enter Icahn Stadium through a Nutrilite tent, where they will sample Nutrilite Sports Nutrition Energy Bars and Sports Drinks, Rhodiola 110 and Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables. They will also be able to arm themselves with Nutrilite branded ThunderStix, and a limited group will receive Nutrilite event t-shirts.
The Reebok Grand Prix was the site of two more victories for Jenn Stuczynski and Sanya Richards. Despite the severe storms and lengthy delays, Jenn vaulted to yet another victory while Sanya breezed to a win in the 400-meter Sprint. Liu Xiang pulled out of the 110-meter hurdle event due to a tight hamstring, but graciously addressed his supporters in the stands.
Jenn slightly missed the 16 ft, 5-1/2 inch mark while attempting to go for the world record in the Pole Vault event. She still managed to beat the field by nearly a foot to take first place honors. Sanya was also a winner in her event with a time of 50.04 – a whole 2/3 of a second faster than her next competition.
After three years as the "World's Fastest Man," Asafa Powell's world record in the men's 100M sprint was broken by fellow Jamaican, Usain Bolt. Bolt squeaked past Asafa's record by .02 seconds on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at the Reebok Grand Prix with a time of 9.72. Asafa, who has not been competing recently due to injury, looks forward to getting back on the track this summer and reclaiming his "World's Fastest Man" title. Asafa's return to racing is highly anticipated given this newly heated battle for the world record, and is sure to capture tremendous exposure and excitement during the coming months. We hope everyone will share in the excitement and rally to support our world class sprinter and original member of Team Nutrilite as the drama on the track unfolds this summer.
Make sure to check out the Nike Prefontaine Classic next Sunday, June 8 LIVE on NBC from 1pm – 3pm PT (4pm – 6pm ET).
Nutrilite® is the exclusive vitamin, mineral, and nutritional supplement brand of the 2008 Reebok Grand Prix, being held in New York City on May 31. And Team Nutrilite athletes will each defend their records there.
Be sure to watch Saturday and Sunday to see if Sanya, Liu and Jenn can best their own records:
ESPN from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 31, 2008.
CBS from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2008.
If you plan to be in the area, buy General Admission tickets to the event by calling 877-TIX-TRAC or 877-849-8722. Bring family and guests and be sure to download enough free gift coupons for all of them to get an exclusive Nutrilite gift. And come to the Nutrilite tent to snag an autograph from one of the Team athletes!
