* Laila Campbell at New Balance Nationals Outdoor
Photo Credit: Elias Catania | MileSplit
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Laila Campbell and Brianna Selby became the latest prep athletes to forge Name, Image, and Likeness deals with New Balance on Thursday.
Campbell, the Spring Grove senior, joins fellow Pennsylvanian Drew Griffith, who inked his NIL deal with New Balance on January 9th. Selby resides in Virginia and attends Indian River High School.
Campbell, a Louisiana State University signee, is coming off of a spectacular 2023 campaign and is already gearing up for another strong year.
How did the deal come to be?
"I've been competing at New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor since my sophomore year," Campbell said. "I've been able to show my talents in front of the New Balance staff numerous times."
"Additionally, my dad is always looking out for me and meeting people at the national meets, which helped us form connections with some of the staff at New Balance."
Connections almost always aren't enough; Campbell had to get the job done, too.
"Winning the 100m title (at New Balance Nationals Outdoor) in 2022 got me on the radar of a lot of people, and then when I came back and won the title again in 2023, it really showed that I'm here for the long run."
"Through competing in New Balance sponsored meets and talking with New Balance staff, I've learned that this brand is about more than just footwear and apparel. I've seen how the New Balance community operates as a family, strives to create change in communities, and creates more competitive environments in sport.
"For these purposes, I was more than happy to partner with New Balance."
Selby is the defending New Balance Nationals Indoor in the 60m. She signed with Southern California recently over the National Letter of Intent period.
Laila Campbell has already won six PIAA Outdoor State titles and she is undefeated at the Outdoor State Championship meet. In 2023, she secured a second-straight New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championship in the 100m.
Furthermore, she earned All-American honors in the 200m.
She then competed at the USATF U20 Championship, finishing sixth in the 100m. She was then selected as an alternate for the U20 National 4x100m relay team.
On the heels of her outlandish 2023 campaign, Campbell earned PA MileSplit Track Athlete of the Year Honors.
Pennsylvania's History with NIL Deals
By Phil Grove | MileSplit
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Campbell is the second Pennsylvania Track and Field Star to sign with New Balance in as many weeks. Now, both Griffith and Campbell are signed with the running apparel giants.
They're on a short list of Pennsylvania high school athletes who have inked NIL agreements since the PIAA approved such deals in early December 2022.
State law was changed in June 2021 with the signing of Senate Bill 381 by then-Gov. Tom Wolf, enabling all Pennsylvania student-athletes -- high school or college -- to receive compensation for the use of their Name, Image, or Likeness.
Pennsylvania was the 21st state to approve a NIL policy to allow high schoolers to earn money through endorsements or other relationships and retain their amateur status. Former Laurel Highlands multi-sport standout Rodney Gallagher became the first prep in the state to announce an NIL relationship just hours after the PIAA board approved the framework.
PIAA rules do not allow the wearing of school-identifying apparel in any NIL-related work, along with representing prohibited products and services such as alcohol or gambling. Violating these and other restrictions would affect an athlete's eligibility, potentially permanently.
Athletes must notify their high school officials within 72 hours of signing an NIL deal, said Mark Byers, PIAA's chief operating officer. A high school with an NIL-signed athlete then informs the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission of the arrangement.