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Some of the world’s best young walkers will compete for medals when the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 takes place at Hayward Field from 5-9 August.
Here we take a look at the women’s and men’s 5.000m track walk. Events are scheduled during the morning session of Day 4.
Women’s 5000m race walk (Saturday August 8 at 9.30 local time)
Serena Di Fabio heads the women’s field by almost a minute after clocking 20:42.74 at the Italian U20 Championships in Caorle in July – the fastest time by an U20 athlete since 2007.
Yang Yutong, who finished 10 seconds ahead of Di Fabio in the U20 race at the World Race Walking Team Championships earlier this year, will start as another strong contender, along with Chinese teammate Sun Xiaoxue.
France’s Chloe Le Roch is the next-fastest entrant with 21:41.80, while Tunisia’s Imen Saii has set an African U20 best of 22:00.00. Australia’s Zoe Woods, Italy’s Beatrice Palmonari and Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ambaw are also likely challengers, as are Japanese duo Hiromi Tabata and Ibuki Hori.
Link to women entry list:
https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7204186/AT-5KW-W-f—-.SL2.pdf
Men’s 5000m race walk (Saturday August 8 at 10:10 local time)
India’s Nitin Gupta heads the men’s entries by more than half a minute after clocking a world U20 best of 18:54.37 in Bengaluru in April. But the 18-year-old may not have it all his own way in Eugene.
The dominant nature of Pu Huajia’s victory in the U20 men’s race at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Brasilia – where he won by 49 seconds – suggests the Chinese race walker will be a major threat.
Australia’s Isaac Beacroft, winner of the U20 race at the 2024 World Race Walking Team Championships, is fresh from a victory over 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games, where he finished ahead of elite senior internationals.
Peru’s José Duvan Ccoscco Sueldo set a South American U20 best of 19:27.12 last month. Italy’s Alessio Coppola, who finished third behind Pu and Beacroft at the World Race Walking Team Championships, has achieved an indoor best of 19:30.77.
Mexico’s Emiliano Barba, silver medallist in Lima two years ago, will be hoping to at least match that achievement.
Link to men entry list:
https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7204186/AT-5KW-M-f—-.SL2.pdf
Morgan Hoopes for the World Athletics Media Academy