Three things to watch on day one in Oregon

Athlete training ahead of the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 (© World Athletics Media Academy Benjamin Fox)

Five days of action at the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 kicks off on Wednesday (5), when rising stars from around the globe will compete for age-group honours.

Here are just three of the many things to watch out for on day one at Hayward Field.

Shot put in the spotlight for first final

Be sure to watch out for the first final of the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 – the men’s shot put. Omar Hussein tops the entry list with a PB of 20.97m. With that distance winning the US U20 title in June, Hussein looks forward to returning to Hayward Field with another gold in his sights.

Korea’s Park Si-hoon set an Asian U20 record of 20.65m in May, while Aristion Anastasios Papadopoulos of Greece threw 20.45m to claim Greek U20 gold in July.

Two other athletes have surpassed the 20-metre mark: Brazil’s Alessandro Borges with a PB of 20.29m and 17-year-old Jayden Walcott of Barbados who has already thrown 20.19m.

WU20 Oregon 26 throws events preview

Day one will be a showcase for the 5000m athletes.

Uganda’s Charity Cherop leads the women’s field with her national record of 14:39.38 from the Diamond League in Shaoxing/Keqiao. She won silver in this event in Lima two years ago and looks to be the runner to beat. Shito Gumi of Ethiopia, who has a PB of 14:49.66, should be among her main challengers.

Sweden’s Carmen Cernjul, a double European U20 medallist, has run 15:06.71 this year. Also keep an eye on Ethiopia’s Emebet Tilahun, the runner-up at the Ethiopian U20 Championships.

Kenya’s Frankline Kibet is the heavy favourite in the men’s 5000m. He has run 13:08.32 this season and hopes to leave Oregon with another gold to go with his world U20 cross-country title from Tallahassee in January.

Japan’s athletes are separated by only one second so far this season. Yota Mashiko has run 13:20.35 and Asian U20 champion Ryo Kurimura 13:21.99. Nehemiah Kipngeno of Kenya will also be racing for a podium place.

WU20 Oregon 26 distance events preview

Home-track advantage in the mixed 4x400m

USA hold the fastest U20 mixed 4x400m time ever run (3:17.69 from 2022). With a home-track advantage and a deep pool, they are the pre-race favourites.

Australia return as defending champions, having won in Lima in 3:19.27. Poland also return after they finished second in Lima with a 3:20.44, just over a second back.

Jamaica, India and Germany, who all made the final in 2024, could challenge for the podium this time.

Sofiah Gravley for the World Athletics Media Academy