‘Kipchoge’s sub-two shoe would be legal’
LONDON: Nike said the Alphafly shoe worn by Eliud Kipchoge to break the two-hour marathon barrier would be legal under World Athletics’ new rules and that widespread reports of its shoes containing triple carbon plates are false.
On Wednesday Nike launched a new version of the shoe that complies with rules introduced by the governing body last week to limit carbon plate usage and sole thickness for elite races following concerns that technological developments were giving runners an unnatural advantage.
The latest incarnation of the shoe is the Air Zoom Alphafly Next%, with one curved, carbon plate, an insole thickness of 39.5mm, as well as added air pockets. The new rules—the WA’S first governing running shoe specifications—state road shoes must have insoles no thicker than 40mm and not contain more than one rigid, embedded carbon fibre plate. “We are pleased the Nike Zoom Vaporfly series and Nike Zoom Alphafly NEXT% remain legal,” said the U.S company. “We will continue our dialogue with World Athletics and the industry on new standards.”
Nike said on Thursday the shoes used by Kipchoge for his unofficial sub-two hour marathon in Vienna last October would be legal even under the new rules. “We don’t make running shoes with three plates,” a Nike spokesperson said, adding that the midsole thickness was also within the new parameters.