The Shoes of the Fastest MPRO Runners at 70.3 Worlds 2024

ASICS and Nike were the shoe brands of choice for your fastest male pro runners at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships this year. Four athletes wore products out of ASICS MetaSpeed line-up of carbon fiber plated racers. Based on kits and athlete mentions, it would appear that only one of them — Léo Bergère — is sponsored by the brand.

After not being worn at all in the women’s top 10, Nike makes appearances again in the shoe count with both sponsored and unsponsored athletes, also with four. On took the other two spots in the top 10, including by your 70.3 World Champion, Jelle Geens.

Here’s what the speedy runners wore, with photos courtesy of our own Kevin Mackinnon.

1.) Jelle Geens – 70.3 World Champion – 1:07:34

Shoe: On Cloudboom Strike

Geens, who chased down Wilde, used On’s carbon racer to do so. The various mixes of foam and carbon plating have proven to grow more popular with professionals, especially as they appear to be increasing their sponsorship opportunities.

2.) Hayden Wilde – 1:09:05

Shoe: Nike AlphaFly 3

Wilde came tantalizingly close to another top step on the global stage. Nike’s third generation AlphaFly has seen the shoe grow in platform stability, and amongst triathletes, has almost completely eliminated the VaporFly from the equation.

3.) Jason West – 1:09:52

Shoe: ASICS MetaSpeed Edge Paris

West used the latest generation MetaSpeed Edge, the Paris edition, on his way to the third fastest run split, and the only other man to run under 70 minutes. The Edge is meant for athletes who gain speed from increased cadence versus longer stride length.

4.) Matt Hanson – 1:10:17

Shoe: On Cloudboom Strike

Hanson appears on the fast run list for yet another race, as it’s long been his bread and butter. Hanson, one of the original On sponsored athletes, also wore the Cloudboom Strike.

5.) Léo Bergère – 1:10:28

Shoe: ASICS MetaSpeed Edge Paris

Bergère swapped into the Edge Paris somewhat recently. It (and the Brad Williams inspired bucket hat look) served him well. Perhaps somewhat surprising is the prevalence of the Edge to the longer-stride intended Sky models amongst the men.

6.) Ari Klau – 1:10:39

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Shoe: Nike AlphaFly 3

Klau finished well down the order on the day, but he showed off that his collegiate and professional running background still might make him dangerous down the line. Perhaps in a throwback to his Virginia days, he wore Nike’s AlphaFly (UVA is a Nike school for track and field.)

7.) Harry Palmer – 1:11:25

Shoe: ASICS MetaSpeed Sky+

Palmer had a phenomenal 70.3 Worlds, finishing in eighth place. He was the only of ASICS shoe wearers to not have one of the Paris models on his feet, opting for the MetaSpeed Sky+. It’s ever so slightly heavier than the Paris counterpart, but otherwise, it is much the same shoe.

8.) Colin Szuch – 1:11:31

Shoe: Nike AlphaFly 3

Szuch finished outside of the money in 19th place, although if he had a little more real estate he might have gotten into the top 15, with less than 40 seconds separating him from a pay day. He, like all the other Nike wearers, was in the latest generation AlphaFly.

9.) Gregory Barnaby – IM Pro Series Champion – 1:12:05

Shoe: ASICS MetaSpeed Sky Paris

Barnaby did what he had to, beating Matthew Marquardt on the day to claim the $200,000 prize and title of IRONMAN Pro Series Champion. Barnaby was in ASICS long-stride race shoe, the Sky Paris.

10.) Marc Dubrick – 1:12:05

Shoe: Nike AlphaFly 3

Closing out the top 10 splits is Marc Dubrick. A tenth place run split matched his finishing position. Dubrick wore the AlphaFly 3 — the only one in the yellow color way, as opposed to the white and red all the other athletes had.

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