Australia’s proud tradition in the 800m has continued at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA with Daniel Williams (NSW, Andrew Rowlings) and Harry Halleen (NSW, Gary Howard) both making tomorrow night’s final.
Halleen ran a gutsy race to come from behind to take third place in his semi-final after appearing to be out of contention with 300m to run.
He ran two personal bests in two races, eventually coming third in his semi-final with a time of 1:48.17 with a huge run for it at the end.
“I still really can’t believe it,” he said after the race.
“Turning down the back straight I was so far behind, but I kept telling myself to keep working, and at 150m I thought I was in for a chance and I just went for it.”
Williams eased into the final finishing second in his semi-final with a time of 1:48.29.
He admitted that was the toughest race in his U20s campaign, after months of build up around the event.
“It’s a relief first of all,” Williams said of making the final.
“To finally be able to focus on the final feels great, it’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait to get out there and go for it.”
In finals events last night hammer thrower Xavier Leauma (TAS, Rachel Hosie) finished eighth in his final with a throw of 71.97m
At only 17, he is likely to be a feature in Australian hammer throwing for many years to come.
“It wasn’t my best comp, but that’s what happens,” he said.
“But I think when you get here you have to take it all in, have fun, because you never know when you will be on the world stage again,” he said.
In the women’s 400m final Alice Hill (NSW, Tim Eschebach) also 17, ran a PB to finish ninth in the final.
She was all smiles afterwards, delighted by her first outing in an international competition.
In the 3000m Charles Barrett (VIC, Charlotte Wilson), and Matthew McLachlan (NSW, Ben Liddy) finished 19th and 21st.
The race was won by the new Kenya superstar of the sport Emmanuel Kiprono, who nearly broke the world record with a time of 7.28.28.
In the decathlon, Wyatt Hill (WA,Grant Ward) and Xavier Davie (TAS, Luke Sulzberger) are 16th and 25th respectively.
Earlier Australia’s two medallists from the last World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru, high jumper Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW, Karen Roe) and long jumper Mason McGroder (Matthew Wade) both easily qualified what now is their second final appearance at the event.
Louison-Roe won a silver medal in Peru, while Mason McGroder won a bronze.
Louison-Roe needed just two jumps, the last one 1.79m to automatically qualify for the final on the last day of the competition.
“I was expecting us to jump a little bit more, but we ended up only two which was absolutely fine, it’s just going to keep me fresh for the final,” she said.
For McGroder he is quietly confident this time around of producing something big in the final, which is also on Sunday in Eugene.
“I think I know what a World’s final is like, especially doing it in Lima (Peru), so I’m super keen to go out and give it my all,” he said.
In other results from Eugene:
Tammin Lampret (NSW, Matthew Wade and Angus McEntyre) 100m Hurdles 7th in semi-final 13.68
Oliver Facer (NSW, Steve and Catherine Soroijevic) 110m Hurdles 7th in semi-final 13.50
Harrison Purcell (QLD, Stacey Taurima) 110 Hurdles 7th in semi-final 13.61
Ivy Boothroyd (NSW, Ned Brophy) 800m 4th in semi-final 2:04.57
Emma Fryga 800m (NSW Roy Rankin) 7th in semi-final 2:05.55
Amaya Mearns (QLD, Andrew Iselin) 200m 4th in semi-final 23.49
Josiah John (QLD, Andrew Iselin200m 6th in semi-final 21.05
Dylan Hall (NSW, Jack Darcy) 200m 9th in semi-final 21.29
Jamison Harding (VIC, Murray Harding) 100m Hurdles 4th in heat 13.64 PB
Zara Hagan (QLD, Christopher Dale) 200m 3rd in heat 23.93
Dylan Hall (NSW, Jack Darcy) 4th in heat 21.12PB
Luke Vrataric (NSW, Leo Dulay) long jump 6.92m, 26th overall.
By Luke Dennehy with David Tarbotton, Australian Athletics
Posted 8/8/2026
