EUGENE (USA, Aug 6): USA defeated Jamaica in both 100m finals at the World Athletics U20 Championships. Tate Taylor improved to 9.94 (0.1) to win the men’s title clearly ahead of Gary Card (10.05) and South Africa’s Marco Ferreira (10.16), while Mia Maxwell won in 11.14 (-0.1) from Shanoya Douglas (11.17) and U18 Kelly Doualla of Italy (11.27).
EUGENE, OREGON – AUGUST 06: Bronze medalist Marko Ferreira of Team South Africa, gold medalist Tate Taylor of Team United States and silver medalist Gary Card of Team Jamaica cross the finish line in the Men’s 100m Final during day two of the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field on August 06, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/WA/Getty Images)
Fresh Commonwealth medallist Jessica Oji of Nigeria posted 18.08 to win the shot put ahead of Ecuador’s Belsy Jennifer Quinonez (17.90 U20NR) and Emily Scherf of Germany (17.23 PB).
EUGENE, OREGON – AUGUST 06: Gold medalist Jessica Oji of Team Nigeria celebrates after the Women’s Shot Put final during day two of the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field on August 06, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/WA/Getty Images)
The other three winners on Thursday evening delivered world U20 season leads and lifetime bests. Finland’s Enni Virjonen scored 6214 points in the heptathlon (13.36/1.3 – 166 – 14.35 PB – 23.99/-0.7 / 629/1.5 – 43.65 – 2:17.25) and won over Mia Mireia Uusorg of Estonia (5961) and Switzerland’s Anna Pfister (5850 PB), while Briton Thea Brown (5826 PB) injured faded out of the podium in last two disciplines.
EUGENE, OREGON – AUGUST 06: (L-R) Heptathalon silver medalist Mia Mireia Uusorg of Team Estonia, gold medalist Enni Virjonen of Team Finland and bronze medalist Anna Pfister of Team Switzerland pose with Legend the Bigfoot, the official mascot of the World Athletics Championships, during day two of the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field on August 06, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/WA/Getty Images)
Two medals for France in the long jump, as in 2016, Djelika Diarra improved to 652 (0.6) ahead of Evelyn Mitropoulou of Greece (644/0.5) and Soudatou Niang (634/-0.4 =PB). In the women’s discus, China’s Su Yixin with 61.06 PB defeated Jaslene Massey of USA (58.41), fresh U18 European champion Marina Hadjicosta of Cyprus third (54.88). Quincy Wilson in 45.02, (senior) World 4x400m relay medallist Leendert Koekemor of South Africa (45.18) and another American Jayden Deleon (45.49) won the men’s 400m semifinals, while UAE’s sub-45 Suleiman Abdulrahman was eliminated.
EUGENE, OREGON – AUGUST 06: Jaslene Massey of Team United States competes in the Women’s Discus Throw final during day two of the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field on August 06, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/WA/Getty Images)
Ataja Stephanie-Vazquez of USA (51.76), European U20 medallist Anastazja Kus of Poland (52.43) and Guyana’s Tianna Springer (52.48) were in the women’s semifinals. Kenya’s Caren Chepchirchir (4:12.09) and Osama Er Redouani of Morocco (3:42.23 PB) were the fastest in the 1500m heats.
Alfonz Juck is a husband, father, statistician, announcer, journalist, organizer, agent usw, following track and field since 1972. EME NEWS is a news service relating to the sport of athletics. It is published on daily basis with additional updates, as required. Copyright is held by Alfons Juck, TOP ATHLETICS, a.s., Krikova 10, 82107 Bratislava, Slovakia. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The redistribution and/or direct reproduction of material from EME NEWS is prohibited unless permission is given by c TOP ATHLETICS (such as being included in a subscription agreement).
