FAYETTEVILLE — Jarrion Lawson, who completed his college eligibility for Arkansas by winning the long jump and 100 and 200 meters at this year’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, has signed a shoe and apparel endorsement contract with Asics, the company announced Thursday.
Contract terms weren’t released, but ESPN reported it is the largest deal for a male athlete with Asics.
Lawson, represented by the Doyle Management Group in Atlanta, lives and trains in Fayetteville.
Asics has the second-highest market share in performance running behind Nike, according to ESPN. Lawson wore Nike products at Arkansas as part of the UA’s shoe and apparel contract.
“If you are looking for track endorsers to generate return on investment dollar for dollar, they won’t do that,” Asics America CEO Gene McCarthy said, according to ESPN. “But we are looking to make our brand younger and faster, and signing people who are younger and faster is one way to do that.”
Lawson, 22, said he’s comfortable in his new Asics products, which he’ll wear Saturday when he competes in the 100 and long jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.