Sinclaire Johnson announced on Thursday that she has signed a contract with Hoka after six years with Nike and will make her debut for the brand on Saturday at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston in the women’s 1,500 meters.
Johnson, 27, is the women’s American record holder in the mile and noted that Hoka “puts people first,” which was a factor in her decision to sign with the brand.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Hoka family,” Johnson said in a statement. “I’ve spent my career learning and growing through every change, and this partnership feels like the perfect fit for this next chapter.”
Johnson has boosted her profile on the middle-distance stage since 2019 when she won the NCAA women’s 1,500m title. Since then, after turning professional, she has stacked a growing resume of accolades that includes the 2022 national title in the 1,500m and appearances this year for the U.S. at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China in March and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. On the road leading up to Tokyo, Johnson broke the American record in the women’s mile in 4:16.32 at the London Diamond League in July.
She ended 2025 with a statement win at the Kalakaua Merrie Mile in Honolulu in 4:21.66, the second-fastest women’s road mile time ever.
The new year now signals a shift for Johnson, as she switches sponsors and joins a brand roster that includes Nia Akins, Pietro Arese, Hilary Bor, Mercy Chelangat, Krissy Gear, Luis Grijalva, Olin Hacker, Wesley Kiptoo and Alex Masai,
“Hoka is a brand that truly puts people first, which really resonates with me,” Johnson said. “Community is everything, it keeps me grounded, motivated, and supported as I chase my goals.”
