Sprint Stars Lewis and Gout land World Under 20 Silver as Australia wins Six Medals in one session in Lima

Australia has won a stunning six medals in one session at the 2024 World Athletics Under 20 Championships, equalling the nation's record medal tally of 10 at the event with one day remaining as Torrie Lewis and Gout Gout bolted to 200m silver, while Olympic semi-finalists Claudia Hollingsworth and Peyton Craig matched the feat over 800m on a historic afternoon in Lima, Peru.

Delivering a personal best of 22.88 (0.0) in the Women’s 200m Final, Lewis (QLD, Andrew Iselin) added World Under 20 silver to her growing resume in the same month that she became an Olympic semi-finalist, finishing behind Adaejah Hodge (IVB) in 22.74.

“I’m just so glad I came away with a PB. It’s all I wanted and there is nothing better I could have done,” Lewis said.

“To finally finish off my junior career; this will probably be my last race running as a junior specifically in an individual event. I’ve never been on a podium of this magnitude and this is the first time having a flag around myself.”

16-year-old Gout Gout (QLD, Diane Sheppard) marked his much anticipated global championship debut with silver over 200m, living up to the occasion with a career-best run of 20.60 (-0.7).

Under pressure off the bend as South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza secured the sprint double in 20.52, Gout opened his signature stride late in the race to close in on his international rival.

“I feel really relieved after a long two weeks of being in Lima. I’ve been training, grinding and waiting patiently for this moment to happen. Now that it’s done, I’m really glad and ready to rest up for the relay tomorrow,” Gout said.

Adding to the 200m frenzy, teammates Jessica Milat (VIC, Cathy Woodruff) and Zach Della Rocca (VIC, Robert Abdullah) finished in fourth and sixth placings respectively. 

Fresh off their Olympic semi-final appearances in Paris, rising 800m stars Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram) and Peyton Craig (QLD, Brendan Mallyon) clinched a pair of silver medals to ignite the Australians in the afternoon session.

Hollingsworth locked horns with Kenya’s Sarah Moraa in a battle down the home straight when swinging wide to mount a challenge, with the Australian forced to settle for a sensational silver in 2:00.87 behind the winning time of 2:00.36.

“Definitely on paper I had a lot of pressure on me to maybe come home with the gold, but I put up my best fight out there and thought I had the legs coming into the straight,” Hollingsworth said.

“I’m proud to be second in the world. It’s super nice to just remember that I’m still young, but I’m becoming more of an adult and a professional now.”

Craig rallied his trademark kick but ran out of running room before the finish, claiming second place with 1:46.95 behind Ethiopia’s General Berhanu Ayansa in 1:46.86.

“Crossing the line, my first actual feeling probably was a little bit of disappointment. But I have to be happy with second at the World Championships, even if it wasn’t quite how I wanted to go out, it’s pretty damn close,” Craig said.

Turning 18 last week and becoming a double World Under 20 Championships medallist this week, Delta Amidzovski (NSW, Becky Amidzovski & Roger Fabri) added 100m Hurdles bronze to her Long Jump world title – clocking 13.24 (-0.2) to round out her stellar campaign.

“I don’t think it will sink in for a while. Maybe when I get back to the hotel and it’s all over, I can just lay in bed and think about what I did. Definitely on the inside I’m feeling really proud of myself and my team,” Amidzovski said.

Australia’s youngest team member Mason McGroder (NSW, Matt Wade) proved that age is no barrier as the 15-year-old leapt to bronze in the Men’s Long Jump, registering a stunning 7.80m (-0.1) personal best in the fifth round to cement his status as an emerging star.

“I wasn’t expecting a medal. I was expecting to be up there but I guess I got it done. I fouled a few big jumps which sucks but to get a bronze medal at this age is really cool,” McGroder said.

Inspired by Australia’s Olympic success in race walking, Isaac Beacroft (NSW, David Beacroft) carved 68 seconds off his own national Under 20 record in the 10,000m Race Walk, walking to fourth place as Alexandra Griffin (WA, Jared Tallent) backed up the performance with a fifth-place finish in the Women’s 10,000m Race Walk.

Further finals success came as high jumper Mitchell Hatfield (NSW, Leanne Pejkovic) soared up and over 2.12m to claim equal fifth position in the Men’s High Jump, while it was Xylavene Beale (VIC, Gus Puopolo) who landed a 15.38m blow and fifth place in the Women’s Shot Put ahead of Marley Raikiwasa (SA, Patrick Ebel) in seventh place with 14.97m.

Decathlete Jack Whiteside (WA, Chelsea Whiteside) also punched in a top-10 finish with ninth place and a personal best of 7440 points, as Australia’s Women’s 4x100m, Men’s 4x100m, Women’s 4x400m and Men’s 4x400m all progressed to tomorrow’s finals.

The 2024 World Athletics Under 20 Championships conclude tomorrow with a fifth and final day of athletics aciton.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 30/08/2024