Myers Leads Golden Finale | PREVIEW Day Five World Under 20 Championships

Already level with Australia’s most successful World Under 20 Championships team in history on 10 medals, the class of Lima 2024 are ready to go clear as the nation’s best ever crop of Under 20 stars on the final day of competition, led by Cameron Myers and four world-class relays.

Athletics fans around the world have been forced to wait until the final day of competition to see 18-year-old Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) break the shackles over 1500m, with the Canberra product coasting through qualification in 3:41.32 – well outside his 3:33.26 best.

The fastest man in history over the distance at Under 18 level will race to confirm his trajectory with a world Under 20 title:

“I competed at the Australian Nationals in April and I didn’t run very well in the championship environment. Coming to these sort of meets and getting that experience is going to be invaluable for my experience,” Myers said.

“I want to win. Anything else and I wouldn’t be very happy.”

Cleo Richardson (VIC, Gavin Burren) will also contest the Women’s 1500m Final, having set a personal best of 4:22.35 in the heats to qualify.

The high-flying Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW, Karen Roe) kept a clean sheet in qualifying when cruising through the progressions to clear 1.83m, with the 17-year-old now turning her attention to the final where she looms as a threat.

“I reckon it’s going to take 1.90m and above, so I’m going to have to pull it out. It’s good to come in as the underdog, hopefully I can surprise them,” Louison-Roe said.

Discus thrower Ethan Ayodele (ACT, Les Bottles) enjoyed a smooth ride to the final with a 59.45m effort in yesterday’s qualifying round, ranked in fifth place for the final and just 64cm outside of the medals on paper.

The competition remains for Ayodele’s taking if he can muster his best, which stands at 62.92m – a distance further than the best qualifying throw of 61.54m by South Africa’s Juan Marais.

Despite winning bronze at the 2022 World Under 20 Championships in Cali, triple jumper Tiana Boras (VIC, Alwyn Jones) approaches today’s final with a dose of perspective after battling through an interrupted preparation, hoping that the championship environment will light the fuse on her competitive best.

Having already secured gold in the Mixed 4x400m Relay on Day One of competition, Australia’s sprinters are back to finish the job with teams in the Women’s 4x100m, Men’s 4x100m, Women’s 4x400m and Men’s 4x400m all qualifying for the finals in strong fashion.

All four teams will be in the hunt for the medals with additions from the heats including Torrie Lewis (QLD, Andrew Iselin), Jessica Milat (VIC, Cathy Woodruff), Gout Gout (QLD, Diane Sheppard) and Zach Della Rocca (VIC, Robert Abdullah) – with a golden closing up for grabs in the final events of the five-day program.

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 30/08/2024