With only ten days to go, our World Athletics U20 Championships team are on their want to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles for the staging camp, before the main event kicks off in Eugene, Oregon on Wednesday August 5.
The 72 strong team, including 1500m runners Alexander Cameron-Smith (VIC, Peter Burke) and Kieran Shepherd (ACT, Des Proctor) pictured above, have been training and preparing for months and are all set to go.
Some events to watch include:
800M: A YEAR TO REMEMBER WITH MORE TO COME
In the men’s 800m Daniel Williams (NSW, Andrew Rowlings) goes into the World U20’s with great form, running a huge personal best 1:44.37 to take out the Adelaide Track Classic back in March.
He goes into Eugene ranked No.2 in the men’s U20.
“The goal for me this year has always been World Juniors,” he said.
“In March I ran a Commonwealth Games qualifier, then I asked the questions, should I go for that?
“But after that I sat down with my coach and the family, and we decided World Juniors is where we should focus the effort into.
“So, for the past six months everything has been centered around that.
He will be joined in the 800m by Harry Halleen (NSW, Gary Howard).
Isaac Beacroft (NSW, David Beacroft,) is the only athlete who is doing the double, the Commonwealth Games and the World Athletics U20 Championships.
He will be cheered on by his team mates at the staging camp no doubt, in Santa Barbara next week.
He will be joined by teammate Owen Toyne (ACT, David Beacroft).
Beacroft is ranked No.3 in the event and Toyne is No.8, so both have great chances in Eugene.
Australia has never had a medal in this event, such is the quality of the 100m at the U20s.
This year Uwezo Lubenda (QLD, Gary Cairns) and Zavier Peacock (NSW, Michael Psarakis & Jack Edwards) will represent Australia.
Both had a great Australian Junior Athletics Championships, with Zavier leading Gout Gout in the 100m before eventually coming second.
Victoria’s Charles Barrett (VIC, Charlotte Wilson) is one of our most tallented all-round distance runners having qualified for the World Juniors in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.
Eventually he would narrow his focus with selection in the 3000m and 5000m.
He goes into Eugene ranked in the top 10 in the world (3000m), and he will also run in the 5000m as well.
He is joined in the 3000m event by Matthew McLachlan (NSW, Ben Liddy).
Two years ago Mason McGroder (NSW, Matthew Wade) won a bronze as a 15-year-old in the last U20’s in Peru. He comes back for a second go in the long jump also excelling at another sport, AFL football.
He will be joined in the long jump by Luke Vrataric (NSW, Leo Dulay).
Vrataric is coming back from a hamstring injury.
“My qualifying jump from the beginning of the season managed to hold out till the end and I was selected to the W20s team and have been training to make the best of a comeback I can,” he said.
TRIPLE JUMP: DETERMINED AFTER INJURY
Last U20s Lian Anagnostopoulos (NSW, Leo Dulay) was devastated to miss out on making the team, so he will be ready to go in Eugene.
He will be joined by Wagga Wagga’s Daniel Okerenyang (NSW Greg Wiencke), who also has had some injuries the past couple of years. So, Eugene will be extra special.
“Over the last couple of years my journey has been about consistency, learning and improving,” he said.
“I missed out on u20s two years ago as i did my hamstring during the nationals Which motivated me to develop a lot as an athlete.
“I’ve had lots of injuries during this time, which has also been a big motivation to get this stage.”
Australia has two hammer throwers in the top 20 rankings in the world, Xavier Leamu (TAS, Rachel Hosie) and Connor Hopgood (QLD, Matthew Symonds).
Both are at their first U20 Championships.
800m: TWO LAPS AROUND THE TRACK
Ivy Boothroyd (NSW, Ned Brophy)and Emma Fryga (QLD, Roy Rankin) are part of a very strong middle-distance team to run in Eugene.
Fryga ran the qualifying time last year, where she won All Schools with a time of 2:04.91.
100m: SPRINT TO THE FINISH LINE
Zara Hagan (QLD, Christopher Dale ) is ranked in the top 10 in the world and has a busy program in Eugene. She is also in the 200m and the 4x100m relay.
She is joined in the 100m by Amaya Mearns (QLD, Andrew Iselin).
These two very good athletes will boost our sprinting ranks and national relay program, when they graduate to the seniors.
3000m STEEPLECHASE: A NEW EVENT
In her first season of steeplechasing, talented distance runner Tessa Ebert (SA, Matthew Clarke), has made significant progress. She is under the guidance of Olympic steeplechaser Matthew Clarke, who is new to the coaching ranks.
This is the first time the 300Om steeplechase has happened at the U20s.
Zoe Woods (NSW, David Beacroft) goes into Eugene ranked No. 2 in the walk. She was devastated to miss out on selection for the previous World U20 Championships in Peru, due to injury.
“I am now back two years later from my first attempt, a lot stronger both physically and mentally, gained experience at two World Championships (World Teams Race Walking 2024/2026) and more than ready to take on the world in Eugene,” she said.
She will be joined in the walk by Sophie Polkinghorne (NSW, David Beacroft).
Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW, Karen Roe) goes into the competition in Eugene as the No.1 ranked jumper in the world.
She is full of confidence after a great year jumping in the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series events this year.
She will be hoping to go one better in Eugene compared to two years ago in Peru, where she won the silver medal.
In 2014 Nicola Olyslagers competed in the High Jump in Eugene, the last time the US had the U20s. Louison-Roe is well on the way to following her career trajectory.
The only siblings in the team but very different events for Shakira (VIC, Mark Stewart) and Jamison Harding (VIC, Mark Stewart).
Shakira runs in the 400m hurdles, while Jamison in the pole vault.
Izobella Wing (TAS, Simon Bennett) and Bailey Van Den Brock ( TAS, Wim Vaessen) will be the first on the program for the Australians in Eugene, starting at 10am on Wednesday August 5th.
It’s the first time a Tasmanian heptathlete has competed for an Australian Junior team, and we have two on this team.
By Luke Dennehy and David Tarbotton, Australian Athletics
Posted 27/7/204
