Posted: July 18, 2006

Athletics: Saucony Signs Ryan Shay of Team Running USA

From: Sharon Barbano, Saucony Public Relations

LEXINGTON, Mass. - (July 11, 2006) - Reinforcing the brand's performance running platform, Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of The Stride Rite Corporation (NYSE: SRR) and a leading global supplier of athletic footwear and apparel, has formed a multi-year partnership with two-time USA Running Circuit (USARC) champion Ryan Shay. Shay, a member of Team Running USA in California, will train in Saucony's new ProGrid™ technology and compete in the brand's racing specific product line.

"It's exciting to have such an innovative and performance-driven brand behind me," said Shay, the 2001 NCAA 10,000 meter champion and 2003 U.S. marathon champion.

"Wearing Saucony will definitely give me a competitive edge in both my training and racing," added Shay.

"Ryan Shay is an incredible fit for the energy of the Saucony brand," said Tom Carleo, senior vice president of product for Saucony.

"He shares the competitive spirit and passion that we have for the sport. With his input, we'll continue to build exciting and innovative products for runners everywhere," continued Carleo.

Shay, 27, a nine-time All-American at Notre Dame, had four consecutive top 10 finishes in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championship including the 2001 national title. After college, Shay joined Team Running USA, an elite training group that includes Olympic medalists Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor. Other career highlights include: 2003-04 USA Half-Marathon champion, 2004 USA 20K champion, 2005 USA 15K champion and 2003-04 USA Running Circuit Grand Prix champion. When not training with Team Running USA in Mammoth Lakes, California, Shay resides in East Jordan, Michigan.

While training, Shay will wear Saucony products with ProGrid technology, the evolution of Saucony's patented Grid system. Introduced in the early nineties, Grid was the first technology that mutually addressed cushioning and stability. ProGrid, located closer to the foot than traditional Grid, continues to provide runners with unsurpassed comfort and cushioning without compromising on support and durability. The ProGrid Triumph 4 will launch at retail in November 2006.

On race day, Shay will toe the line in Saucony's lightweight selection of performance racing shoes, including the Grid Fastwitch 2, offered in Custom Ride Management® options for speed or endurance.

About Saucony, Inc.: Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of The Stride Rite Corporation, is a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony, Saucony Originals and Spot-bilt. For more information, go to: Saucony.com.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.

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