Gwen Jorgensen Wore Custom Nike Vaporly 4% Spike at USATF Nationals
by LetsRun.com
June 27, 2018
Olympic triathlon gold medallist Gwen Jorgensen has posted a YouTube video on her account today, confirming that she ran the USATF nationals 10,000m in a Nike Vaporfly 4% that was modified with a custom spike plate. Video below:
The Nike Vaporfly 4% is a revolutionary, popular, and controversial shoe with its carbon fiber plate that is intended to provide more energy return or bounce to the runner. Running Magazine Canada published a report that Galen Rupp ran an indoor track race with what appeared to be a spiked version of the 4% this past January, but until now we don’t believe there had been any confirmation from an athlete saying they had worn a spiked version of the 4%.
In March of this year, Jorgensen, who finished 7th at nationals, ran and won a 10,000 at Stanford wearing the regular Vaporfly 4% shoes that don’t have spikes. She posted a YouTube video at the time, explaining she wore them instead of a traditional spike because she preferred their feel and comfort over the extra traction of a spike.
The custom spike she wore last week at nationals was intended to give her the feel and bounce she desires with the extra traction of a spike.
Jorgensen also announced today she will be running the USATF 10k Champs at the AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4th.
Images from Gwen Jorgensen’s media team (click for larger)
Peachtree:
https://twitter.com/gwenjorgensen/status/1012018814542737408
Discuss: A Nike Vaporfly 4% Spike Exists and Gwen Jorgensen Wore It at Nationals