Three things to watch on day four in Lima

The penultimate day of the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 on Friday (30) is packed with finals, from the 10,000m race walk through to the 200m.

Here are three things to watch out for at the Estadio Atletico de la Videna.

Sprint showdowns

After winning the 100m title on Wednesday (28), South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza returns on the hunt for a sprint double.

The 18-year-old, who formed part of his nation’s silver medal-winning 4x100m team at the Paris Olympics, cruised through the 200m heats and semifinals on Thursday (29), clocking 21.00 after easing up in the latter. But he’s set to face some strong competition from Australia's 16-year-old Gout Gout, who won his heat in 20.77.

In the women’s event, Gout’s compatriot Torrie Lewis, who reached the Olympic semifinals in Paris, seeks her first global medal after leading the semifinals in 23.14. Adaejah Hodge of British Virgin Islands, who has already claimed 100m silver in Lima, won her semifinal in 23.18 and will be in the race for another medal.

WU20 Lima 24 sprint events preview

Yan takes aim for javelin title

China’s Yan Ziyi has the chance to add a global title to her world U20 record. At the age of just 15, Yan threw 64.28m in Hangzhou in April to improve both the ratified world U20 record of 63.86m set by Cuba’s Yulenmis Aguilar in 2015 and the unratified 63.96m achieved by Elina Tzengko of Greece in 2020.

Now 16, Yan has also surpassed 62 metres in three other competitions this year and could threaten championship record of 63.52m set by Adriana Vilagos in Cali in 2022.

Another athlete with medal potential is Germany’s Mirja Lukas, who threw 58.70m last month and topped qualification with 56.76m.

WU20 Lima 24 throws events preview

Race walks in the morning spotlight

The 10,000m race walk events are the only two morning session finals in Lima and they will take centre stage on Friday morning.

In the men’s event, Australia’s Isaac Beacroft will want to add world U20 gold to the U20 10km title he claimed at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya in April.

The 17-year-old has a track PB of 40:44.47 but clocked an Oceanian U20 record of 39:56 in Antalya. He’s set to be challenged by Japan’s Sohtaroh Osaka, who was fourth in Antalya but has a track PB of 39:54.42.

In the women’s race, Spain’s Aldara Meilan will want to go one better than her runner-up spot in Antalya. Her PB of 45:06.75 makes her the fastest entrant by 50 seconds, but she could have competition in China’s Chen Meiling, who has a superior road PB of 43:57 but finished fifth in Antalya.

WU20 Lima 24 combined events and race walks preview

Jess Whittington for World Athletics