Future looking bright as Australia’s Under 20 Team make history on the world stage

Australia’s next generation of track and field talent have made history as the nation’s best ever World Under 20 Championships team, claiming a record 14 medals in Lima and igniting the road to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Finishing second on the placing table with world titles from Delta Amidzovski and Australia’s Mixed 4x400m Relay team, the 67-strong contingent live up to all expectations to eclipse the nation’s previous best of 10 medals at the 1996 championships in Sydney with 14 medals in Lima (2 Gold, 7 Silver, 5 bronze).

Posting 28 top-8 performances, 20 personal bests and two Under 20 Australian records in the Mixed 4x400m Relay, Australia finished in second place on the Placing Table on 141 points behind powerhouse nation, United States (170 points), also taking home seventh place on the Medal Table.

Athletics Australia General Manager – High Performance, Andrew Faichney emphasised the significance of the team’s performance as they build towards their peak for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, where they will all be aged 23-27 years old.

“Off the back of our incredible Paris Olympic campaign, the team in Lima has truly showcased the depth and talent within Australian athletics. Their performance at the World Under 20 Championships is not just a victory for today but a promise of what's to come,” Faichney said.

"This group of athletes represent the future of our sport and their achievements signal that we’re on a path to continued excellence. Many of them will form the core of our next two Olympic campaigns, and with the runway to Los Angeles 2028 and then a home Games in Brisbane ahead, we are confident they will only build on the success we have achieved this year in Paris.”

With many athletes conquering their first double periodisaiton after being selected for the team at the Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships in April, the team achieved their goal of winning the gold medal for the best prepared team at the championships.

Athletics Australia Director of Performance Sustainability and Team Leader, Craig Pickering highlighted the unity of the team and support staff:

“One of the key goals for our team was to get as many athletes as close to their personal bests as possible at these Championships. We knew that if we could achieve that, we would be able to have some really positive results,” Pickering said.

“It has been a huge effort from all the team staff, personal coaches, parents, and the athletes themselves, all working together to ensure they could perform to their best on the world stage”.

Becoming Australia’s first female Under 20 world champion since Dani Stevens in 2006, Delta Amidzovski (NSW, Becky Amidzovski & Roger Fabri) leapt 6.58m and into the history books with a breakthrough gold in the Women’s Long Jump, before doubling back for bronze in the 100m Hurdles in a time of 13.22.

The medal rush was bookended by relay success with Australia’s Mixed 4x400m Relay team of Jordan Gilbert (VIC, Michael Gilbert), Bella Pasquali (VIC, Jason Boulton), Jack Deguara (NSW, Katie Smee) and Sophia Gregorevic (VIC, Steve Gaffney) winning gold on the opening day of competition, before the final two events on the program saw Australia win silver in the Women’s 4x400m Relay and bronze in the Men’s 4x400m Relay.

Sprint sensations Torrie Lewis (QLD, Andrew Iselin) and Gout Gout (QLD, Diane Sheppard) both won world silver with career-best performances in the 200m Finals, clocking personal best times of 22.88 and 20.60, while Olympic semi-finalists Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram) and Peyton Craig (QLD, Brendan Mallyon) matched the feat with 800m silver.

Also landing silver was middle-distance sensation Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) when grinding out a thrilling Men’s 1500m Final, while 17-year-old Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW, Karen Roe) went up and over 1.89m to clinch silver in the Women’s High Jump.

Australia’s youngest team member Mason McGroder (NSW, Matt Wade) proved that age is no barrier to the global podium, leaping to bronze in the Men’s Long Jump at the age of 15 with a personal best of 7.80m, while Marley Raikiwasa (SA, Patrick Ebel) and Typhena Hewett (SA, Kym Simons & Pat Todd) also won field event bronze in the Women’s Discus Throw and Pole Vault respectively.

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

2024 World Under 20 Championship Medallists:

Gold (2) – Delta Amidzovski (Long Jump), Mixed 4x400m Relay (Jordan Gilbert, Bella Pasquali, Jack Deguara, Sophia Gregorevic)

Silver (7) – Torrie Lewis (200m), Gout Gout (200m), Claudia Hollingsworth (800m), Peyton Craig (800m), Cameron Myers (1500m), Izobelle Louison-Roe (High Jump), Women’s 4x400m Relay (Amelia Rowe, Bella Pasquali, Jemma Pollard, Sophia Gregorevic)

Bronze (5) – Delta Amidzovski (100m Hurdles), Mason McGroder (Long Jump), Tryphena Hewett (Pole Vault), Marley Raikiwasa (Discus Throw), Men’s 4x400m Relay (Caleb Kilpatrick, Jett Grundy, Jack Deguara, Jordan Gilbert)

 By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 2/9/2024