Americans win eight golds as British team finish the global junior event with one silver and three bronze medals
Earlier this year the United States announced it would not be sending a team to the World Under-20 Championships. After much criticism – especially given the fact it is hosting the 2026 event in Eugene – the national governing body backtracked on its decision and it proved a good move as the USA topped the medals table in Lima, Peru, on Saturday (Aug 31) with eight golds and 16 medals in total.
There were no golds for Britain, though. But the Brits won men’s 4x100m silver and women’s 4x400m bronze on the final day of the five-day programme to finish the championships with four medals.
The United States’ medal haul was bolstered on the last day when Vance Nilsson enjoyed a shock win in the men’s 400m hurdles. Only third in his semi-final, he went into the final as one of the fastest losers and was drawn on the inside lane. He also clattered into the final hurdle in the final and almost went down, but he scrambled his way through to the finish to take gold in 49.26, just ahead of Michal Rada of Czechia, who ran 49.30 with Finland’s Antti Sainio taking bronze in 49.61.
Michal Rada, Vance Nilsson, Antti Sainio (World Athletics)
In fifth, Britain’s Sam Lunt clocked 50.29, the second fastest time of his career after his British junior record of 50.00 in the semi-finals.
“It wasn’t the race I wanted,” said Lunt, “I just don’t think I executed that second-to-last hurdle as well as I did yesterday (in the semi). You can’t always focus on the bad things. I dreamed of being here two years ago, so I am eternally grateful.
“I came in ranked 12th and I have left fifth, it may not have been what I wanted but sometimes you can’t always get there.”
Ava Lloyd also finished fifth for Britain in the women’s 1500m but was left a little frustrated after a slow and messy final. Approaching the bell she was out in lane three trying to get a good position but from thereafter Ethiopia’s Saron Berhe’s powered away on the final lap to win in 4:16.64 as Canada’s Rachel Forsyth was runner-up and Germany’s Jolanda Kallabis third.
Rachel Forsyth, Saron Berhe, Jolanda Kallabis (World Athletics)
Lloyd, who is part of Trevor Painter’s training group in the north-west of England, clocked 4:20.64 and said: “I think I just ran it rather silly at times. I was conscious of covering any breaks and I knew for that I needed to be near the front but I just seemed to make the wrong move every time. I just ended up running way more than I needed to and I think that really cost me.
“The two races that I have done here are probably the most violent and brutal races that I have ever done. But it’s all a learning experience.”
A similarly tactical men’s race was won by Abdisa Fayisa of Ethiopia in 3:40.51 ahead of Cameron Myers of Australia as Spain’s Alex Pintado took bronze and Britain’s George Couttie was 11th.
Abdisa Fayisa beats Cam Myers (World Athletics)
In the high jump, Serbia’s Angelina Topic bounced back from her disappointment at missing the Olympic final through injury as she cleared 1.91m to win in Lima.
Australia’s Izobelle Louison-Roe cleared a PB of 1.89m to win silver on countback ahead of defending champion Karmen Bruus of Estonia.
In the men’s discus, Bryce Ruland of the United States, only 17, won with 62.59m as the shot put champion from a few days earlier, Jarno van Daalen of the Netherlands, set a PB in second of 62.22m with Finland’s Mico Lampinen third.
Sharifa Davronova of Uzbekistan, 17, successfully defended her women’s triple jump crown with 13.75m ahead of Li Yi of China and Erika Giorgia Anoeta Saraceni of Italy.
Yi Li, Sharifa Davronova, Erika Giorgia Anoeta Saraceni (World Athletics)
Zhang Jiale of China, another 17-year-old, won the women’s hammer with 68.95m.
In the relays, the men’s 4x100m saw Jamaica overtake Britain on the final leg courtesy of Deandre Daley as they won in 39.18. Daley’s team-mates in the race were Jace Witter, Gary Card and Nyrone Wade whereas the GB team consisted of Jake Odey-Jordan, Joel Masters, Dean Patterson and Teddy Wilson.
Jamaica also won the women’s 4x100m with Alana Reid teaming up with Shanoya Mikalia Douglas, Alliah Baker and Briana Campbell to run 43.39.
Women’s 4x400m medallists (World Athletics)
The United States then took both 4x400m victories. In the women’s race Zaya Akins anchored her team to victory in 3:30.74 ahead of Australia with the British team of Charlotte Henrich, Emma Holmes, Kara Dacosta and Rebecca Grieve running 3:32.80 for bronze, whereas the US men’s quartet of Jayden Davis, Xavier Donaldson, Alexander Rhodes and Sidi Njie clocked 3:03.56 to beat South Africa and Australia.
For our coverage from the rest of the championships, see here…
Day one | Day two | Day three | Day four
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