History Awaits | PREVIEW Day Four World Under 20 Championships
Published Fri 30 Aug 2024
Australia sits in third place of the World Under 20 Championships medal table after three days of competition in Lima, but the team’s fate lies in an action-packed penultimate day featuring race walk sensation Isaac Beacroft, sprint stars Torrie Lewis and Gout Gout, and Olympic semi-finalists Peyton Craig and Claudia Hollingsworth.
Beacroft (NSW, David Beacroft) rose to prominence on the world stage when claiming the Men’s 10km title on the road at the 2024 World Race Walking Team Championships in April, hoping to double down to become a two-time world Under 20 champion by the age of 17 when taking to the 10,000m Race Walk.
“I’ve tried to pay a little bit less attention to what’s going on with all the other people leading into this competition. I’m trying to just focus on myself and seeing what I can really get out of myself,” Beacroft said.
“The main goal is to win. I really don’t care about what time comes with it, that’s the goal.”
The rising star will be joined by Marcus Wakim (VIC, Adam Garganis) who is ranked sixth in his own right, while Australia’s race walking depth will be on display as the second-ranked Alexandra Griffin (WA, Jared Tallent) launches a bid for a medal of her own alongside Chelsea Roberts (NSW, Dennis Coker & Frank Overton).
They carry the weight of the world number one rankings and the reputation of Olympic semi-finalists, but the time has arrived for Peyton Craig (QLD, Brendan Mallyon) and Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram) to finish the job over 800m – hopeful that the Lima stage will provide their crowning moments.
World Under 20 Long Jump champion Delta Amidzovski (NSW, Becky Amidzovski & Roger Fabri) continued her hot form in the 100m Hurdles to advance to today’s final, where she will chase a second medal after a personal best of 13.22 in the heats.
“I was talking to my roommate last night about how I’m going to back it up and she just said that I’ve already won gold and it’s time to go out there and have some fun. I don’t want to put any expectations on the final because that’s what has worked for me so far,” Amidzovski said.
Australia will field four sprinters across the Women’s and Men’s 200m Finals, led by Australia’s fastest woman Torrie Lewis (QLD, Andrew Iselin). Lewis breezed through yesterday’s semi-finals in 23.14 (-0.6) to qualify alongside Jessica Milat (VIC, Cathy Woodruff), while Gout Gout (QLD, Diane Sheppard) also punched his ticket to the final in 21.07 (-0.9) along with Zach Della Rocca (VIC, Robert Abdullah).
After a bronze medal in the Discus Throw, Marley Raikiwasa (SA, Patrick Ebel) returns to take on the Shot Put Qualification and Final on the same day when joined by teammate Xylavene Beale (VIC, Gus Puopolo), with Raikiwasa setting an Australian Under 20 record of 16.84m earlier this year to be ranked third in the event.
Adding to the throwing action, Ethan Ayodele (ACT, Les Bottles) and Darcy Giddings (VIC, Robert Holzer) will look to seize their long-awaited moment in Lima in the Discus Throw qualification.
Mitchell Hatfield (NSW, Leanne Pejkovic) will also contest a field final when preparing for takeoff in the Men’s High Jump where he will look to emulate his 2.13m best, while 15-year-old Mason McGroder (NSW, Matt Wade) and Jesuye Doherty (SA, Deborah Gayen) launch in the Long Jump final, and Jack Whiteside (WA, Chelsea Whiteside) attacks the second day of the Decathlon sitting on 12th place on 3720 points.
After gold in the Mixed 4x400m Relay on the opening day of competition, Australia’s sprinters are back on Day Four with four relay teams in action across the Men’s and Women’s 4x100m and 4x400m events.
A full list of Australian teams for the relay heats can be found below:
Men’s 4x100m – Cody Hasler (NSW, Rob Marks), Frankleen Newah-Jarfoi (VIC, Daniel Snyders), Archer McHugh (VIC, Alistair Tait), Sebastian Sultana (NSW, Greg Smith)
Women’s 4x100m – Thewbelle Philp (QLD, Leanne Hines-Smith), Olivia Rose Inkster (NSW, Katie Edwards & Melinda Gainsford-Taylor), Olivia Dodds (WA, Lyn Foreman), Aleksandra Stoilova (NSW, Tevin Hester)
Men’s 4x400m – Caleb Kilpatrick (VIC, Joe Gulli), Jett Grundy (QLD, Teague Peck), Jack Deguara (NSW, Katie Smee), Jordan Gilbert (VIC, Michael Gilbert)
Women’s 4x400m – Charlotte McAuliffe (SA, Hagicostas), Bella Pasquali (VIC, Jason Boulton), Jemma Pollard (NSW, Tim Eschebach), Sophia Gregorevic (VIC, Steve Gaffney)
Rounding out the racing with a pair of semi-finals over the 400m Hurdles, Alesha Bennetts (ACT, Matt Beckenham) and Siena Farrell (VIC, Daniel Martin) will throw everything they have at a finals berth over one lap and 10 barriers.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 29/08/2024
