Team New Balance Runner Khalid Khannouchi on Road to Recovery

BOSTON, May 27, 2009 – New Balance, a leading global manufacturer of performance footwear and apparel, announced today that Team New Balance runner Khalid Khannouchi, two time world record holder and current U.S. marathon record holder, is recovering well from recent foot surgery and hopes to begin training and racing again in fall 2009.

“I’m currently doing intense physical therapy at the U.S. Athletic Training Center in New York City so I can be fully competitive again,” says Khannouchi. “I’m healing well and am eager and excited to return to racing for Team New Balance this fall.”

After years of pain and discomfort in Khannouchi’s left foot, an X-ray and MRI showed a bunion deformity with cartilage defect in his great toe joint and a bone spur in his ankle joint. The surgery, performed at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank New Jersey by sports podiatrist Dr. John Connors and Dr. James Ludden, removed the bone spur from Khalid’s left ankle. The bunionectomy/microfracture surgery on his first metatarsal joint involved a marrow stimulation that was used to treat the focal, symptomatic cartilage defects in the bone.

“I am grateful to the Riverview Medical Center and Drs. Connors and Ludden for all of their support and expertise,” commented Khannouchi.

Khannouchi will be required to use special running and racing orthotics to absorb the impact shock and provide correct biomechanical stability even after his physical therapy has ended.

New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. New Balance employs more than 4000 people around the globe, and in 2008 reported worldwide sales of $1.64 billion. For more information please visit http://www.newbalance.com.


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