WORLD UNDER 20 ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS | PREVIEW

Six of WA’s best Under 20 Athletes will light up Lima this week as part of a 68-athlete strong Australian team competing at the World Under 20 Athletics Championships in Peru.

Kicking off on August 27, the competition will span five action packed days bringing together the best Under 20 athletes from across the world, all vying to become the next Under 20 World Athletics Champion.

Emerging shot put talent, Robert Marchesi – Scott (Leanne Marchesi, UWA Athletics Club) will open the action for WA on day two of the competition.

Marchesi-Scott earnt his spot on the star studded Australian team when he delivered a record breaking 18.82m result at the Australian Championships in April earlier this year. After spending the first 12 weeks of his season in a moon boot due to an ankle injury, the Australian Champion will look to utilize the time spent in the gym instead of the throwing circle to one-up his Australian title and bring home the gold in the Men’s shot put event.

World ranked number two Under 20 Race Walker; Alexandra Griffin (Jared Tallent, UWA Athletics Club) is no stranger to the podium. Clocking a new state record and claiming the Under 20 Australian title with 45:54.22 in April, Griffin is a real contender for another podium finish in Peru.   

Jack Whiteside (Chelsea Whiteside, Inglewood Athletics) will look to replicate his Oceania gold medal performance when he steps into Estadio Atletico de la Videna for the Men’s Decathlon. Whitside’s impressive domestic season saw him become the Australian Under 20 Decathlon Champion in April, with the Inglewood athlete now hoping to secure his first medal on the world stage.  

WA young gun Olivia Dodds (Lynn Foreman, UWA Athletics Club) joins Olympic semi-finalist Torrie Lewis (QLD), Aleksandra Stoilova (NSW), Jessica Milat (VIC), Thewbelle Philp (QLD), Olivia Inkster (NSW) and Chelsea Scolyer (TAS) in the Women’s 4x100m Relay. The talented team of sprinters will be one to watch in Peru after setting a national record of 44.34 earlier in the year.  

Making his green and gold debut at the Youth Commonwealth Games last year, Ky Hehir (Matt Ramsden, Perth Track & Field Club) produced a solid fourth place performance in the men’s 3000m finishing in 8:25.81. The long distance runner has since improved his personal best to 8:04.26, also setting a new state record. Now with more international experience under his belt, the long distance runner aims to improve on his fourth place finish, setting his sight on a podium finish.

Amelia Rowe (Brian Pozzi, Tracksters Athletics Club) will be looking to continue her breakout season in Peru, with the Australian Under 20 400m Champion contesting both the Women’s 400m and the Women’s 4x400m Relay. Rowe debuted for Australia only two months ago, claiming bronze in the women’s 400m in Suva and will be looking to replicate her Oceania performance when she steps onto the world stage for the first time in Lima.

The World Under 20 Athletics Championships are set to take place from the 27th to the 31st of August in Lima, Peru.  

Find the full timetable and live results HERE.

To stay up to date with the World Under 20 Athletics Championships schedules, results and updates, follow the Athletics West Facebook and Instagram pages.  

For more information on how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West at admin@athleticswest.com.au or on 08 6272 0480.  

By Imogen McDonald, Athletics West 

Images by Athletics Australia

Posted 26 August 2024