Le'Ezra Brown in the 110m hurdles heats in Oregon (© Getty Images)
Le'Ezra Brown improved his own North American U20 110m hurdles record to 12.89 to highlight the heats during the third morning of competition at the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 on home soil on Friday (7), despite hitting the final hurdle.
Securing his place in this evening’s semifinals, the 19-year-old strengthened his position at second on the world U20 all-time list, surpassing the 12.95 he set, also during the heats, at the US U20 Championships on the same Hayward Field track in June.
Only France’s Sasha Zhoya has ever gone quicker with the 12.72 he clocked to win the world U20 title in Nairobi in 2021. Brown’s 12.89 (0.1m/s) is faster than the title-winning times at all editions of the World U20 Championships except for that 2021 edition.
He will look to maintain that momentum in the semifinals and should all go to plan he will return for the final on Saturday looking to retain the title for USA and follow in the footsteps of the 2024 champion Ja'Kobe Tharp, now holder of the senior world record.
Among those joining Brown in the semifinals are Zacchaeus Brocks, who won the US U20 title ahead of Brown and who won his own heat in 13.11, as well as France’s Ewenn Vernack, who set a PB of 13.22.
Jamaica’s Tiana Marshall led the 100m hurdles heats, running 13.10 to dominate her race. Tumi Ramokgopa of South Africa won her own heat in 13.16 the day after securing a semifinal spot in the 400m hurdles. Danai Theodora Bakogianni also got herself a 100m hurdles semifinal place thanks to her Greek U20 record of 13.61.
Von der Heyden takes decathlon lead
After the first three events in the decathlon, 101 points separate the top two athletes. Daniel von der Heyden of South Africa leads the event with 2609 after topping the shot put with 16.05m. He clocked 10.82 in the 100m, later setting a PB of 7.17m in the long jump – his first time surpassing seven metres.
Sweden’s David Berglund moved up nine places after throwing 15.39m in the shot put, putting him in second after the morning session with 2508. Nikolaos Kosmopoulos of Greece finished the morning in third with 2459, just six points ahead of Czechia’s Adam Juliš.
Many of Thursday’s 100m medallists returned to the track for the 200m heats.
Jamaica came out on top of the women’s heats, 100m silver medallist Shanoya Douglas running 22.88 and Sashana Johnson setting a PB of 22.95.
USA’s 100m champion Mia Maxwell won her heat in 23.30 and will be joined in the semifinals by her twin sister Mariah after a competitive first round. Nigeria’s Oghene Success Oyibu (23.04) will also be one to watch as she qualified along with her teammate Oluebube Ezechukwu (23.34).
Amir Thompson of Barbados went quickest in the men’s 200m heats in 20.49. Tomoro Ide of Japan made a statement in heat three as he ran a PB of 20.53 to finish ahead of Jamaica’s Gary Card.
Card, the silver medallist in the 100m on Thursday, was initially disqualified from that 200m heat due to lane infringement but his performance was later reinstated following a successful appeal.
US favourites Tate Taylor, who won the 100m title, and Blake Hamilton also made it through to the semifinals with no issue. They respectively won their heats in 21.02 and 20.54. Three athletes achieved national U20 records – Switzerland’s Emile Mumenthaler (20.62), Guyana’s Tishawn Easton (20.66) and Hong Kong’s Koo Cheuk Fung Jasper (20.86) all automatically qualifying thanks to those record-breaking performances.
World leader Louison-Roe advances
A total of 14 athletes secured their places in the high jump final after clearing 1.79m in qualification. They include world U20 leader Izobelle Louison-Roe from Australia who returns after winning world U20 silver in Lima in 2024.
The women’s hammer started strong, USA’s Burklie Burton ending qualification on top with a PB of 68.03m. Five automatic qualifying athletes threw beyond 64 metres, including Finland’s Pinja Kärhä who blew her group away with her opening mark of 67.51m. Clara Hegemann (66.88m), Nova Kienast (64.75m) and Polina Dzerozhynska (64.39m) will join them in the final.
Six athletes in the women’s javelin automatically qualified for the final after throwing beyond 52.50m. Croatia’s Vita Barbić achieved the top mark with 56.29m. Živa Križ was overjoyed when she did enough with her final attempt to also advance, celebrating with supporters in the crowd after her final throw of 49.22m.
The men’s long jump saw all four automatic qualifiers set PBs. Italy’s Daniele Leonardo Inzoli surpassed eight metres (8.15m), while USA’s Quincy Isaac jumped 7.91m. Mason McGroder of Australia soared 7.83m, improving the PB he set at the last edition of the World U20 Championships in Lima when he got bronze with 7.80m. Ukraine’s Adam Bilokon also qualified after jumping 7.77m.
Sofiah Gravley for the World Athletics Media Academy
