Brand's Acclaimed Geometry of Strong Collection Now Honored With Dual Awards From Worldwide Authority on Running Including "Editor's Choice"

LEXINGTON, MA (April 23, 2012) - As Saucony continues to deliver the most innovative performance footwear in the marketplace,  the brand today announced that the Hurricane 14, its go-to stability running shoe, has been named "Best Update" by Runner's World, the worldwide authority on running. Showcasing the brand's unprecedented Geometry of Strong product platform, which reduces the heel-to-toe offset from the average 12mm to 8mm, the Hurricane 14 was recognized by the publication in the magazine's Summer Shoe Guide for "the significant improvements made to an exisiting model." With this recognition, the brand's groundbreaking Geometry of Strong collection has now been honored by Runner's World with two prestigious awards during the past four months.  The Guide 5 was named "Editor's Choice" in the publication's 2012 Spring Shoe Guide.

"When a shoe has been around long enough to boast a double-digit version, any updates are usually minor tweaks," said the Runner's World review of the Hurricane 14. "Naturally, you don't want to turn away the faithful. But Saucony boldly overhauled the Hurricane. The 14 is 1.2 ounces lighter than its predecessor, is more flexible, offers more cushioning and is more stable. And Saucony lowered the heel-to-toe drop. Such dramatic changes could have gone horribly wrong, but Saucony came out with a winner, and wear-testers loved the update," said Runner's World.

"This award proves that our continued commitment to innovation is respected throughout the industry and validates our decision to literally challenge the foundation of running footwear by reengineering the lasts of our traditional running shoes from a 12mm to 8mm offset," said Pat O'Malley, senior vice president of global footwear for Saucony. "The response from runners and retailers for the Geometry of Strong collection has been phenomenal, further establishing Saucony as the leader in performance running innovation."

The Hurricane 14 features three of the brand's most advanced technologies: POWERGRID™, IBR+ Outsole™ and SAUC-FIT™. The Hurricane 14's revolutionary heel-to-toe offset positions the foot during impact in a way that creates a greater range of motion for the Gastrocnemius-Soleus-Achilles tendon system, allowing for a more powerful running stride.

POWERGRID, a combination of Saucony's award-winning GRID® technology and the brand's new proprietary POWERfoam™, provides the Hurricane 14 with optimal cushioning and responsiveness with every stride while reducing layers to the midsole. The new Hurricane is lighter, more flexible and provides increased cushioning thanks to its IBR+ Outsole, Saucony's new injection-blown rubber compound that's 33 percent lighter in weight than traditional blown rubber and proven to absorb twice as much energy than traditional blown rubber. Securing the foot to the midsole platform is Saucony's unique SAUC-FIT™ technology, an advanced fit system in the upper that also keeps the heel secure and comfortable.

Besides the Hurricane 14 and Guide 5, the Geometry of Strong collection also includes the Triumph 9, the brand's premier neutral cushioned training shoe.

The Hurricane 14, available at participating running specialty retailers, comes in men's sizes 7-13, 14 and 15 and women's sizes 5-12. The Hurricane 14 is available in widths. The suggested retail price of the Hurricane 14 is $140.00.

To read the entire Runner's World 2012 Summer Shoe Guide, check out the June issue of Runner's World on sale at newsstands May 1, or visit http://www.runnersworld.com/.

About Saucony, Inc.: Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc. is a leading global running lifestyle brand that fuses performance, innovation and style to create compelling footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony and Saucony Originals.  Founded in 1898, Saucony continues to inspire runners everywhere with its award winning innovations, including: ProGrid™, PowerGrid™, FlexFilm™, ViZiPRO™ and AMP PRO2™ apparel. At Saucony, a good day is when we get to run. A great day is when we inspire someone else to run. For more information, go to https://www.saucony.com/.

About Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its 4,160-store retail chain, with its brands Airwalk®, Dexter® and Champion® and designer collections by fashion designers Christian Siriano, Lela Rose, Isabel Toledo and Silvia Tcherassi; Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group, focused on lifestyle and performance branded footwear and high-quality children's footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider® Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk®, Above The Rim®, Vision Street Wear®, STRIKEFORCE™, Clinch Gear™, Sims®, Lamar® and LTD®, World Snowboarding Championships™ and Hind®. Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at http://www.collectivebrands.com/.

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