Merrell Signs Ultramarathon Runner Coree Woltering
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Merrell has bolstered its athlete roster by signing ultrarunner Coree Woltering.
The Wolverine Worldwide-owned outdoor brand announced Thursday that it has signed Woltering as an athlete in 2024. Woltering joins a stacked roster of runners who are signed for 2024, including Sara Aranda, Morgan Elliott and Mercedes Siegle-Gaither, winners of Merrell’s fastest known time (FKT) athlete search competition in September 2023.
The addition of Woltering, according to Merrell, reinforces its “dedication to fostering a diverse and dynamic team of athletes who embody the brand’s ethos.” What’s more, Merrell stated Woltering was signed to “inspire outdoor enthusiasts worldwide to embark on their own trail adventures and rigorously test, refine and create products that continue to push the boundaries in the trail run space.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Coree to Merrell, as his dedication to running, incredible talent and authenticity resonates with us,” Merrell VP of brand marketing Lindsey Lindemulder said in a statement. “His passion for the outdoors, commitment to excellence and unique contributions to the running community makes him an invaluable addition to our team. Together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of outdoor performance.”
Woltering, who was born and raised in Ottawa, Ill., is an accomplished athlete with several noteworthy performances under his belt. Most notably, he set a new FKT in June 2020 for the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. He completed the route — which is approximately 1,200 miles long — in 21 days, 13 hours and 35 minutes. Woltering’s run reportedly helped raise $27,000 for Feed America.
The athlete also competed on the Amazon original program “World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji,” which debuted on Prime Video in August 2020.
Merrell confirmed Woltering has been running in its Agility Peak 5 style, and has been testing its Merrell Test Lab (MTL) Long Sky 2 and its new Matryx edition. MTL, the brand explained, is its in-house product incubator where its most technical and category disruptive innovations are conceived.
“People have been sleeping on Merrell. I’m ecstatic to share the next step in my journey as a trail runner with the brand and be a part of that reawakening,” Woltering said in a statement. “Merrell’s dedication to inclusivity, quality and innovation aligns seamlessly with my values as a runner, and I look forward to achieving new heights together. Plus, I will always be a Midwestern kid at heart so it feels like I’m going back to my roots.”
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.