Beth Potter’s brilliant performance epitomises dilemma facing fans over super shoes

The endearing shock painted across Beth Potter’s face spoke volumes about the Scot’s stunning performance at last Saturday’s Podium 5km in Barrowford. The thrill of obliterating her previous best by 43 seconds was mixed with confusion however, having also shaved two seconds off Beatrice Chepkoech’s world record time - though sadly it is unlikely to be ratified under World Athletics regulations due to no drug testers present “I thought it was a joke,” Potter told Athletics Weekley after processing what had occurred. While many lauded Potter for her sensational run, which also bettered Paula Radcliffe’s UK record of 14:51, others immediately made the association between the runner and her footwear: the Asics Metaspeed Sky, which could emerge as a serious rival to Nike’s Alphafly and Vapourfly Next%. Jake Wightman, the art of racing and why the impact of ‘super spikes’ is overblown Potter’s staggering progress, like so many others, is surprising on the surface given her previous PB, but makes sense when considering her inactivity due to Covid-19, which has deprived most from being able to track just who is primed for that breakout display. Great Britain’s Jake Wightman said as much to The Independent last month, while downplaying quite how revolutionary the shoes are: “It’s not like you put them on and there are flames coming out of the back that will propel you along.” In this unprecedented time there are so many athletes who have been able to train in a stealth-like manner, banking gains without the interruption of tapering for races.