Hasset Kifle, a 17-year-old science writer, won this year's Young Science Writer Award for an investigation into how advanced footwear technology is reshaping elite running.

Kifle's winning entry examines "super shoes" – specialized running footwear engineered with carbon fiber plates and foam technologies that boost athlete performance. Brands like Nike, Adidas, and ASICS have developed these shoes over the past decade, with models such as the Nike Vaporfly and Alphafly capturing particular attention after record-breaking marathon performances.

The technology works by storing and returning energy during each stride, effectively reducing the metabolic cost of running. Research published in peer-reviewed journals confirms that athletes in super shoes run approximately 4% faster at the same effort level compared to traditional footwear. This translates to meaningful time advantages in competitive racing.

Kifle's work explores the competitive inequality these shoes create. Elite runners and wealthy athletes can access the latest versions, while amateur and developing athletes cannot. This technological divide raises questions about fairness in sport. World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, has imposed restrictions on super shoe designs since 2020, limiting stack height and plate rigidity to prevent advantages from becoming too extreme.

The writer examines broader concerns about running's future. If technology continues advancing, the sport risks becoming less about human physiology and training, and more about equipment access. Some biomechanists worry that super shoes mask underlying form and injury prevention issues that runners should address.

Kifle's analysis appears in New Scientist, which administers the award. The piece demonstrates how young journalists can tackle complex science topics with nuance, balancing technological innovation against questions of athletic equity and the sport's integrity.

This award recognizes emerging voices in science communication, highlighting how the next generation approaches explaining how innovations reshape established fields. Kifle's work