LAST FALL the Oregon high school association began allowing preps to take advantage of name-image-likeness deals. Now the state’s top sprinter, Mia Brahe-Pedersen, has become the first prep trackster nationwide to land an NIL with shoe giant Nike.
The 17-year-old Brahe-Pedersen, who worked with agent Ray Flynn on the deal, says, “I’m excited about this opportunity because I’m the first American high school track & field athlete to sign with Nike. I think it’s kind of a big deal because I’m coming out of Oregon and obviously Nike is an Oregon-based company. I think it’s really great that they’re taking a chance on me.
“It gives me confidence going into the weekend knowing that I have Nike on my side,” she adds. This weekend, Brahe-Pedersen will be competing in the Senior USATF Championships. That’s because she’d like to get some international championship experience this summer. While competing in the USATF Junior (U20) meet might land her a spot on the squad for Pan-Am Juniors, a conflict with family scheduling means she would not be able to make the trip to Puerto Rico in August.
As a result, Brahe-Pedersen is aiming to make the U.S. squad that will be competing at the NCACA U23 Championships in San José, Costa Rica, July 21–23.
“It’s going to be a longshot to make the team because there are so many competitive young women who are under the age of 23 and will also be trying to make that team if they don’t make the senior team [for the World Championships]. It’s going to be hard, but I think the thing that helps athletes develop is doing hard things. I know that nothing is guaranteed and that makes it more exciting.”
