Silver to Myers and Louison-Roe lifts Australia to best ever World Under 20 Championships

Australia’s 2024 World Athletics Under 20 Championships team have cemented their status as the nation’s best crop of emerging talent in history with 14 medals in Lima, winning four medals on the final day of competition led by middle-distance star Cameron Myers, high jumper Izobelle Louison-Roe and Australia’s 4x400m teams.

Tied with Australia’s 1996 team on 10 medals to begin the fifth and final day of competition, the 67-strong contingent raised the bar to 14 medals to round out a historic week in the Peruvian capital and finish second on the Placing Table behind the United States – igniting the road to Brisbane 2032.

At his long-awaited global debut, middle-distance sensation Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) could only encounter one man better than him on the day when winning 1500m silver, clocking 3:40.60 in the tactical affair behind Ethiopia’s Fayisa Abdisa in 3:40.51.

Leading into the home straight, Myers gritted his teeth and battled valiantly to the finish line, only overtaken in the closing metres.

“It’s bittersweet when you follow your race plan, do everything right and someone is just better than you. That’s the reality of this sport sometimes. It’s motivating and I’ll be back stronger,” Myers said.

“What’s a professional runner that doesn’t want to win medals? It’s a great step in the right direction and no doubt it’s going to give me that kick-start into next year.”

Cleo Richardson (VIC, Gavin Burren) added to the 1500m success with seventh place in a career-best 4:20.91. 

17-year-old Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW, Karen Roe) also soared to silver in the Women’s High Jump with a career-best clearance of 1.89m, producing the effort on her first attempt to separate herself from bronze.

Finishing behind Serbia’s Angelina Topic (1.91m), Louison-Roe was elated with the performance and remains eligible for the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

“I knew coming in that the competition was really hard because they are all fantastic jumpers. I knew I would have to post a PB to get anywhere, I’m just so excited,” Louison-Roe said.

“I’m coached by my Mum [Karen]. We’re on the same page and it’s one of those things that you honestly couldn’t buy.”

Australia completed a unique triple when winning medals in all three 4x400m events headed by gold in the Mixed 4x400m Relay on the opening day of competition, with the Women’s 4x400m and Men’s 4x400m winning medals of their own to round out the program. 

The women’s quartet of Amelia Rowe (WA, Brian Pozzi), Bella Pasquali (VIC, Jason Boulton), Jemma Pollard (NSW, Tim Eschebach) and Sophia Gregorevic (VIC, Steve Gaffney) roared to silver in 3:31.47 – finishing behind the USA in 3:30.74 when leading into the home straight.

Pasquali dropped a 51.59 split on the second leg to propel the team to the front of the field:

“It’s just so insane and amazing, I never thought that would happen! I’m so shocked and proud of everyone in the team, we couldn’t have done it without them,” Pasquali said.

The men followed suit with bronze in the final event, as Caleb Kilpatrick (VIC, Joe Gulli), Jett Grundy (QLD, Teague Peck), Jack Deguara (NSW, Katie Smee) and Jordan Gilbert (VIC, Michael Gilbert) finished the championships in style with a time of 3:05.53.

“It was a hard first leg out in lane eight but we had the Aussies the whole way around. The support we’ve had this whole time has been incredible and to be able to go home with bronze is unreal,” Kilpatrick said.

Australia’s 4x100m men secured fifth place in 39.64 thanks to Frankleen Newah-Jarfoi (VIC, Daniel Snyders), Sebastian Sultana (NSW, Greg Smith), Zach Della Rocca (VIC, Robert Abdullah) and Gout Gout (QLD, Diane Sheppard), while the women were disqualified for an illegal change.

It was heartbreak for Ethan Ayodele (ACT, Les Bottles) who finished in sixth place of the Men’s Discus Throw Final, falling just 1.04m of gold in the close contest. The Canberra product threw 61.55m in the fifth round for the second best performance of his career.

Tiana Boras (VIC, Alwyn Jones) rounded out the competition with 12^th place in the Women’s Triple Jump. 

Australia finished in second place on the Placing Table with 141 points behind the United States, and seventh on the Medal Table with two golds, seven silvers and five bronze.

The 2024 World Athletics Under 20 Championships were held in Lima, Peru from August 27-31.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia 
Posted 31/08/2024