Go Time for Australia’s Rising Stars | PREVIEW Day One World Under 20 Championships
Published Mon 26 Aug 2024
Australia’s most anticipated World Athletics Under 20 Championships team in history is locked and loaded for the opening day of competition in Lima, Peru where they will stamp their presence on the global stage and set the tone for the five-day program.
The team of 67 will build into the championships with 23 Australians in action on Day One, including Olympic semi-finalists Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram) and Peyton Craig (QLD, Brendan Mallyon) in the 800m heats, while their Paris Olympic teammates Sebastian Sultana (NSW, Greg Smith) and Aleksandra Stoilova (NSW, Tevin Hester) take to the first two rounds of the 100m events.
As the established names navigate the opening rounds of their respective disciplines, it’s straight into the finals action for Gabrielle Schmidt (QLD, Kerry Schreiber) over 5000m, while cult figure Robert Marchesi-Scott (WA, Grant Ward) launches in the field for the shot put qualification and final, and Australia’s Mixed 4x400m quartet look to make an immediate impact alongside Mia Scerri (VIC, Rob Stevens & Ralph Newton) who goes in the Heptathlon.
Claiming 21st place over 6km at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia earlier this year before jetting to the University of Florida, Schmidt is poised to use her experience on the world stage to her advantage in what looms as a ferocious Women’s 5000m Final – led by defending champion Medina Eisa (ETH).
There is no athlete better placed than Marchesi-Scott to buoy the spirit of the Australian contingent on Session One of Day One, with the renowned shot putter dialed in for three of his best efforts in the circle to book his ticket to the final in the evening session.
Australia’s Mixed 4x400m relay team of Jack Deguara (NSW, Katie Smee), Bella Pasquali (VIC, Jason Boulton), Jordan Gilbert (VIC, Michael Gilbert) and Sophia Gregorevic (VIC, Steve Gaffney) will combine to form the nation’s strongest finals opportunity on the first day of competition, sparking the first of what promises to be five competitive relay teams for Australia in Lima.
The versatile Scerri is ready and raring to punch in the first four of seven events in the Heptathlon, with the Pacific Games champion out to improve upon her 5624 point personal best in Lima. Tasked with the 100m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put and 200m on Day One – the 19-year-old will set herself up to exceed her 13th place ranking.
Leading the first-round action is Australian Under 20 record holders Craig (1:44.11) and Hollingsworth (1:58.41) who chase semi-finals berths over 800m much like they achieved earlier this month at the Olympic Games in Paris, while Stoilova and Sultana are ready to put their 11.30 and 10.17 second personal best to the test down the straight in the 100m heats and semi-finals.
Joining Stoilova in the blue ribbon event is emerging Tasmanian sprinter Chelsea Scolyer (TAS, Greg James), while Archer McHugh (VIC, Alistair Tait) makes his international debut alongside Sultana in arguably the highlight of any athletics championships.
Doubling back for her second World Athletics Under 20 Championships, Delta Amidzovski (NSW, Becky Amidzovksi & Roger Fabri) has added the Long Jump to her repertoire to complement her preferred 100m Hurdles later in the program. With a 6.37m personal best and speed on the runway, the rising star looms as a threat to her more credentialed rivals.
Also hoping to secure a finals berth in the field is Australia’s discus duo of Marley Raikiwasa (SA, Patrick Ebel) and Chelsy Wayne (NSW, Dennis Knowles), with Raikiwasa claiming ninth place at the 2022 World Under 20 Championships and entering this competition ranked fourth.
Inspired by the success of Olympic champion Nina Kennedy, emerging pole vaulter Tryphena Hewett (SA, Kym Simons & Pat Todd) is well placed to qualify for the Women’s Pole Vault final, approaching with a 4.20m personal best and the automatic qualifying height set at 4.25m.
Meanwhile, triple jumper Alex Epitropakis (QLD, Stacey Taurima) gets his campaign underway in qualifying and Edward Rogan (QLD, Lukas Cannon) lets loose in the Javelin Throw when chasing one of 12 positions in the final.
Rounding out the heats on the track, Mia Toohey (NSW, Jacinta Doyle) and Allegra McGivern (NSW, Ben Liddy) mark their Australian debuts in the first round of the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase, while Fleur Cooper (NSW, Ben Liddy) and Hayden Todd (ACT, Philo Saunders) contest the 800m opening round.
Australian viewers can tune in via World Athletics Inside Track Platform from August 27-31, with the livestream, timetable and live results available HERE.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 26/08/2024
