Josh Kerr Broke the World Record in the Mile. His Custom Shoes Were Designed to Be a ‘Weapon’

Key Points:

• Josh Kerr broke the 27-year-old mile world record, improving the time from 3:45.34 to 3:42.66, surpassing Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1999 record of 3:43.13 at the London Diamond League meeting.
• Kerr’s sponsor, Brooks Running, supported Project 222 with a custom-designed speed suit and racing spike, tailored to his specifications and the demands of running consistent 55-second quarter-miles at world-record pace.
• The Hyperion 222 racing spike features a stiff carbon fiber plate and permanent titanium pins for traction, optimized for Kerr’s greater force generation and designed to maintain a high speed and cadence without gear changes.
• The custom gear met World Athletics competition standards and was approved for use, while the speed suit balanced aerodynamics and breathability for optimal performance in warm conditions.
• Brooks’ Project 222 campaign echoed previous high-profile attempts like Nike’s Breaking2 and Sub4, aiming to push boundaries in middle-distance running through innovation in athlete support and technology.