Germany
and France the biggest delegations in Santiago
IAAF
17 October 2000 - Santiago de Chile - European countries with a strong athletic background have sent the largest teams to the 8th IAAF World Junior Championships.
Germany is represented by 68 athletes including Sina Schielke (200m) and Dennis Leyckes (decathlon) who are the country’s strongest hopes for gold. Schielke, whose season best of 23.07 is the world’s second fastest time this year, might also contest the shorter sprint event. Leyckes on the other hand has scored this year a personal best of 7802 points, which places him well in the lead in the year’s world list. He precedes another German also present in Santiago, André Niklaus, by almost 200 points.
57 athletes in Santiago will wear the dark blue colour of France. France is also the country with the most reigning World Youth champions present in Chile. Four athletes who won last year in Bydgoscsz will compete in Santiago: Sebastien Homo (pole vault), Ladji Doucoure (110m hurdles – his 13.78 is the year’s second fastest time), Joaquim Kiteau (javelin – second world best this year with 74.37m) and Adriana Lamalle (100m hurdles – second fastest in the world with 13.08)
Australia is represented in Santiago by 51 athletes and will count on its two World Youth champions Georgie Clarke and Jana Pittman. Pittman who won the 400m hurdles in Bydgoscsz last year is entered in the 400m, where she holds the second fastest time of the year, and the 400m hurdles, an event in which she is the world leader. Clarke is also entered in two events: the 800m which she won in Bydgoczsz and the 1500m in which she has the third fastest time of the year.
Great Britain has entered 43 athletes the best known of whom are Mark Lewis Francis who clocked a personal best of 10.10 this year and Timothy Benjamin (200m). Both of them are reigning World Youth champions in their respective events and will aim to repeat the British 100m/200m double in Santiago.
The USA team includes 41 athletes led by sprint stars Rae Edwards (10.18 and 20.57) and Andra Fifer (10.23). Edwards - second fastest time in the 100m and fastest time in the 200m this year - and Fifer - third fastest time in the 100m - will aim at the same 100m/200m double, giving us the usual Great Britain Vs USA duel for world sprint supremacy.
Germany 68 athletes 33 men 35 women
France 57 athletes 32 men 25 women
Australia 51 athletes 26 men 25 women
Great Britain 43 athletes 18 men 25 women
USA 41 athletes 21 men 20 women
Chile 36 athletes 23 men 13 women
Spain 36 athletes 25 men 11 women
Poland 34 athletes 19 men 15 women
Jamaica 31 athletes 16 men 15 women
Japan 30 athletes 23 men 7 women
