High-tech track spikes like those being worn at this week's World Athletics Championships have ushered in an era of blazing fast middle-distance runners (800-10,000 meters).

How it works: These "super spikes" — introduced by Nike in 2019 and adopted more widely in 2021 — improve runners' efficiency with a combination of cushiony foam and rigid carbon-fiber plates in the sole.

By the numbers: In 2015, 72 men ran the outdoor 800m in under 1 minute, 46 seconds, per analysis by former World Athletics officer Peter Thompson. In 2021, 109 men did it, an increase of 51%.

The backdrop: We've been here before.

The bottom line: Track stars are faster than ever, and their success can, at least partially, be explained by Spike Lee in the iconic Air Jordan commercial: "It's gotta be the shoes."