New Record for Participation
Eugene is once again the host city for the World Athletics U20 Championships, returning for the second time in 12 years to Hayward Field. Before the event even kicks off, organizers are already celebrating a milestone. With 1,800 athletes from 147 countries set to compete, the meet has already broken the previous attendance record. Last year’s event in Lima, Peru, had just 1,558 participants, but this year’s numbers are higher than ever. The championships are scheduled to begin on Aug. 5 and will wrap up by the following Sunday, offering five days of intense competition and world-class talent.
The U.S. will send a strong team to the meet, including several athletes already or soon to be part of the University of Oregon’s track and field program. Juan Gonzalez, an Oregon standout, is competing in the men’s 5,000 meters. Future Ducks Jaslene Massey and Ellery Lincoln are set to compete in the women’s discus and shot put and the women’s 1,500, respectively. Simon Rosselli, another future member of the Ducks, is also entering the men’s discus. Meanwhile, Estonia’s Mia Uusorg, a promising heptathlete, will be one of the more notable international names on the field.
Talent on the Horizon
Hayward Field has a long history of launching the careers of future track stars. The 2014 U20 Championships in Eugene featured a lineup that would grow into some of the most decorated athletes in world athletics. These included Valarie Sion, who would go on to shine in the women’s discus, and Trayvon Bromell, a sprinter who made waves internationally. Other notable alumni include Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, holder of the men’s 5,000 and 10,000 meters world records, and Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who is now one of the top distance runners in the world. The stage is set for a new generation to step forward in this year’s event.
Tate Taylor, representing the U.S., is a standout in the sprints. He holds the world U20 record in the 200 meters, clocking in at 19.75 seconds. Jamaica’s Gary Card is the only sprinter in the 100 meters to break 10 seconds at 9.93, making him the current U20 world leader. Shanoya Douglas, also from Jamaica, is the top competitor in both the 100 and 200 meters, with personal records of 10.98 and 22.11, respectively.
Looking at the longer distances, Uganda’s Charity Cherop is a dominant force in the women’s 5,000 meters. Her time of 14:39.38 puts her nearly 10 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor. The U.S. also shows promise in the hurdles, with Le’Ezrea Brown and Zacchaeus Brocks both under 13 seconds at the USATF U20 meet. Their times of 12.95 and 12.98 are impressive achievements, and the U.S. is the only country with two athletes below 13 seconds this season.
The event will be divided into two sessions each day, with morning and evening competitions running through Saturday. On the final day, Sunday, the schedule shifts to just one session from noon to 3 p.m. While traditional TV coverage is not available, the meet will be streamed live on Peacock, making it accessible for fans around the globe.
Field events will also draw attention, particularly India’s Shahnavaz Khan in the men’s long jump. He holds the world U20 record at 27 feet, 2¾ inches (8.30 meters), a performance that has yet to be matched. In the shot put, Nigeria’s Jessica Oji, an all-American at Penn, leads the competition with a mark of 60-8½ feet (18.50 meters), a world U20 record by almost 2½ feet.
With a record number of athletes and rising stars, the 2024 U20 Championships in Eugene are shaping up to be one of the most exciting meets in recent memory. Whether it’s the sprints, hurdles, long-distance running, or field events, fans can expect world-class performances and unforgettable moments.