More than shoes: Nike navigates complicated twists in track
FILE - United States' Colleen Quigley looks at her time from heat two of the women's 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing, in this Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, file photo. Quigley left Nike after what they've described as discriminatory or insulting business practices. "Nike was trying to offer me less than what they offered me when I came out of college,” Quigley said in a recent podcast. “To me, it was just a slap in the face.” (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

FILE - United States' Colleen Quigley looks at her time from heat two of the women's 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing, in this Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, file photo. Quigley left Nike after what they've described as discriminatory or insulting business practices. "Nike was trying to offer me less than what they offered me when I came out of college,” Quigley said in a recent podcast. “To me, it was just a slap in the face.” (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
FILE - Allyson Felix reacts to her second place in the women's 400-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., in this Sunday, June 20, 2021, file photo. Though frequently scrutinized the way any market leader is, Nike’s stranglehold on track and field has been tested over the past few years — if not in a pure dollar-for-dollar sense, then certainly in the way it is perceived by its most fervent followers. Gender equity battles have led to the defection of several high-profile women runners, including nine-time Olympic medal winner Allyson Felix. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

FILE - Allyson Felix reacts to her second place in the women's 400-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., in this Sunday, June 20, 2021, file photo. Though frequently scrutinized the way any market leader is, Nike’s stranglehold on track and field has been tested over the past few years — if not in a pure dollar-for-dollar sense, then certainly in the way it is perceived by its most fervent followers. Gender equity battles have led to the defection of several high-profile women runners, including nine-time Olympic medal winner Allyson Felix. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2015, file photo, Alberto Salazar watches a training session for the World Athletic Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. Though frequently scrutinized the way any market leader is, Nike’s stranglehold on track and field has been tested over the past few years — if not in a pure dollar-for-dollar sense, then certainly in the way it is perceived by its most fervent followers. A sordid doping case involving Nike’s most high-profile coach, Alberto Salazar, continues to play out this summer at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2015, file photo, Alberto Salazar watches a training session for the World Athletic Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing. Though frequently scrutinized the way any market leader is, Nike’s stranglehold on track and field has been tested over the past few years — if not in a pure dollar-for-dollar sense, then certainly in the way it is perceived by its most fervent followers. A sordid doping case involving Nike’s most high-profile coach, Alberto Salazar, continues to play out this summer at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
FILE - Clayton Murphy celebrates after winning the men's 800-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., in this Monday, June 21, 2021, file photo. The connection that might best illustrate the tangled web Nike weaves with its running partners is the 23-year sponsorship deal worth a reported $500 million it cut with USA Track and Field back in 2014.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

FILE - Clayton Murphy celebrates after winning the men's 800-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., in this Monday, June 21, 2021, file photo. The connection that might best illustrate the tangled web Nike weaves with its running partners is the 23-year sponsorship deal worth a reported $500 million it cut with USA Track and Field back in 2014.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
FILE - Woody Kincaid celebrates after winning the men's 10000-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., in this Friday, June 18, 2021, file photo. Nike became a leader because it spearheaded innovation that helped people run faster. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

FILE - Woody Kincaid celebrates after winning the men's 10000-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., in this Friday, June 18, 2021, file photo. Nike became a leader because it spearheaded innovation that helped people run faster. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
FILE - Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track & Field, talks during a news conference at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene Ore., in this Tuesday, July 5, 2016, file photo. The connection that might best illustrate the tangled web Nike weaves with its running partners is the 23-year sponsorship deal worth a reported $500 million it cut with USA Track and Field back in 2014. It was widely criticized in some corners — USATF CEO Max Siegel took heat for underselling the sport's growth potential with an arrangement set to last through 2040. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

FILE - Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track & Field, talks during a news conference at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene Ore., in this Tuesday, July 5, 2016, file photo. The connection that might best illustrate the tangled web Nike weaves with its running partners is the 23-year sponsorship deal worth a reported $500 million it cut with USA Track and Field back in 2014. It was widely criticized in some corners — USATF CEO Max Siegel took heat for underselling the sport's growth potential with an arrangement set to last through 2040. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
FILE - Former University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman shares a laugh with Nike CEO and Oregon alumni Phil Knight as Knight presents him with an award at Hayward Field during the Prefontaine Classic track meet in Eugene, Ore., in this May 30, 1999, file photo. Ever since track coach named Bill Bowerman tinkered with the idea of pouring rubber into his waffle iron to concoct a better shoe sole for running, Nike and track have grown together. (AP Photo/John Gress, File)

FILE - Former University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman shares a laugh with Nike CEO and Oregon alumni Phil Knight as Knight presents him with an award at Hayward Field during the Prefontaine Classic track meet in Eugene, Ore., in this May 30, 1999, file photo. Ever since track coach named Bill Bowerman tinkered with the idea of pouring rubber into his waffle iron to concoct a better shoe sole for running, Nike and track have grown together. (AP Photo/John Gress, File)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
FILE - A Nike running shoe is seen in the starting block during the IAAF Athletics World Final in Stuttgart, southern Germany, in this Saturday, Sept 9, 2006, file photo. Ever since a track coach named Bill Bowerman tinkered with the idea of pouring rubber into his waffle iron to concoct a better shoe sole for running, Nike and track have grown together. (AP Photo/Daniel Maurer, File)

FILE - A Nike running shoe is seen in the starting block during the IAAF Athletics World Final in Stuttgart, southern Germany, in this Saturday, Sept 9, 2006, file photo. Ever since a track coach named Bill Bowerman tinkered with the idea of pouring rubber into his waffle iron to concoct a better shoe sole for running, Nike and track have grown together. (AP Photo/Daniel Maurer, File)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT
FILE - In this June 17, 2016 file photo, IAAF President Sebastian Coe speaks during a news conference after a meeting of the IAAF Council at the Grand Hotel in Vienna, Austria. Virtually every major executive and organization in the sport, including USA Track and Field, and its president, Vin Lananna, and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, and former USATF head Craig Masback either has, or once had, some strong connection to Nike. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, File)

FILE - In this June 17, 2016 file photo, IAAF President Sebastian Coe speaks during a news conference after a meeting of the IAAF Council at the Grand Hotel in Vienna, Austria. Virtually every major executive and organization in the sport, including USA Track and Field, and its president, Vin Lananna, and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, and former USATF head Craig Masback either has, or once had, some strong connection to Nike. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, File)

Jun. 23, 2021 10:16 AM EDT