By: Isaac Yuan

One month before the year’s biggest track and field event, a bewildering number of fleet-footed performances have lit up local and professional meets.

In the spring, the University of Washington track team produced eight less-than-four-milers. Three world records were shattered within a week: Faith Kipyegon of Kenya set a new record in both the women’s 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters, and Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia set a new mark in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.

On Friday night, Kipyegon set yet another record, demolishing the women’s one-mile world record by almost five seconds when she broke the tape in 4 minutes and 7.64 seconds. The performance stunned track fans accustomed to records that often improve by no more than tenths of a second.

The question is: why so many fast times? It has been asked and answered ceaselessly. Wavelight, the pace-setting, record-breaking technology, definitely helps. Wavelights are flashes that accompany the racer and help them. If you focus on running faster than the bright green flashes plotting your way along the inside of the track, you will probably beat the world record because the flashes are traveling at the exact pace of the two-mile best time. Super shoes— thick, springy kicks with a midsole plate— are also very helpful. They have transformed racing in recent years by giving higher rebound energy when a runner pushes off.

But many sports scientists say it isn’t all just the shoes; it’s the training done in them. Because the super shoes are a new tool, when people are used to using them, they will become more accustomed to them. The scientists all agree that for a runner to compete at their best, they have to eat the same, drink the same, and, most importantly, wear the same shoes.

The cushioning and recovery benefits have been reported by many top runners. They note that they used to “hit the wall” after 20 miles in the marathon, but now, while wearing super shoes, they can finish stronger and faster because their leg muscles are not so tired and fatigued.

In the London Marathon in April, Kenyan newcomer Kelvin Kiptum wore super shoes while recording the second-fastest marathon time ever, 2:01:25. Kiptum ran the first 13.1 miles in 1:01:40 and the other 7.188 miles in 59:45.

This definitely proves that people and technology mix well together.