Day 4, Morning

• Men’s 4x100m Round 1
  
  

The curse of the 4x100m continues with the leg 1 to 2 stick pass (like Olympics) being disastrous for the U.S.  2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals 100 meter bronze medalist Brayden Williams (Duncanville, TX) appeared to be the leader, but James Bauman (Lake Oswego, OR) left too soon and they never connected.  The next two legs would have been Braylon Thompson (Pittsburg State; Tulsa Union, Tulsa, OK) and 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals long jump 3rd placer, Cordial Vann.

The leader was Jamaica at 39.54. Thailand (39.56), anchored by 100 meter medalist Puripol Boonson, and Korea (39.71) were surprising 2nd and 3rd place finishers, both with national records.  South Africa, with two members of their Olympic silver medal 4x100 meter relay team entered, were disqualified.

• Men’s 4x400m Round 1
  
  

The U.S. had no issues in this event, leading all qualifiers in 3:05.16. The team was Grant Buckmiller (Washington State; Lake Stevens, WA; 46.69), Xavier Donaldson (Princeton; Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, NJ; 46.11), Gabriel Clement (UCLA; Kaplan, LA; 46.47) and Alexander Rhodes (Puget Sound; Lincoln, Portland, OR; 45.89).

• Men’s Discus Qualifying
  
  

It was a great day for Iowa bound Bryce Ruland (Waterford Union, Waterford, WI).  He got a personal best on his first throw (194-01) and then another one (and an automatic qualifier) in the second round (200-06).  The other American, NCAA 11th place finisher Roury McCloyan (Mississippi State; St. Joseph Catholic, Greenville, MS) qualified 9th overall at 190-08, and advanced to the final as well. 

The leading qualifier was Juan Marais (South Africa) throwing 201-11.  The world U20 leader, Shaiquan Dunn (Jamaica), with a best of 214-10, barely qualified with a throw of 189-08.

• Men’s Decathlon 110 Meter Hurdles
  
  

Tomas Jarvenin (Czechia) continues to expand his lead.  He ran the fastest time in this event, clocking 13.78.  He is now at 5361.  The second and third positions remain unchanged, with Hubert Trosianka (Poland) at 5088 and Elias Kapell (Sweden) with 4899 points.

Kenneth Byrd (East Burke, Connolly Springs, NC) is in 16th place with 4395 points, and Brayden Richards, DQ’d in the 400m is 23rd with 3293 points.  Four other athletes have dropped out of the competition.

• Men’s Decathlon Discus
  
  

Tomas Jarvenin (Czechia) continued to “pour it on”, winning the discus with a PB 161-04.  He now leads Hubert Troscianka (Poland) by over 350 points.  Troscianka stays in second with a 5854 point total.  Jonathan Hertwig-Odegaard (Norway) moved into third with 5588 points.

Kenneth Byrd (East Burke, Connolly Springs, NC) stayed in 16th, now with 4960 points. place with 4395 points, and Brayden Richards now has 3839 points.

• Men’s Decathlon Pole Vault
  
  

The first two remain the same (Jarvenin and Trosianka) with 7004 and 6585 points, respectively. A new third placer is Florian Vriezen (Netherlands), now with 6355 points, by virtue of his PB 15-09 clearance

Kenneth Byrd passed until 14-01.25, then failed to clear that height.  He was the 2024 Nike Indoor Nationals pole vault runner up with a best of 17-00.25.

• Men’s 10000 Meter Racewalk
  
  

There were no Americans present (none had made the world U20 qualifying mark).  The winner was Rayen Cherni (Tunisia) with a meet record of 39:24.85.  The US U20 10000 meter walk was won in 49:15.85.

• Women’s 10000 Meter Racewalk
  

Zhouma Baima (China) got the world lead in 43:26.60. Angelica Harris (South Elgin, IL) was 30th with 50:16.24.  Angelica won the US U20 meet with 48:27.69.

• Women’s 4x100m Round 1
  
  

The U.S. was the second fastest qualifier behind Jamaica.  Jamaica was the leader at 43.81 with Alana Reid anchoring.  They are the team to beat.  The U.S. ran 44.22 with the team of Jade Brown (Arizona; Taravella, Coral Springs, FL), World U20 100 meter leader Cynteria James (South Carolina; Southridge, Miami, FL), Southern Cal signee and US U20 100 meter champ Avery Lewis (Friends Central, Wynnewood, PA) and Davenae Fagan (Cincinnati; Arabia Mountain, Decatur, GA). 

• Women’s 4x400m Round 1
  
  

The U.S. initially did not qualify.  They were 9th overall qualifier at 3:36.71.  However, three teams (Germany and South Africa -exchanging positions before takeover and Peru-  leaving the assigned lane early before the breakline), were disqualified moving the U.S. in the second time qualifier. The leading qualifier was Australia at 3:33.55.

The U.S. ran Lakely Doht-Barron (Oregon; Central Catholic, Portland, OR; 55.83 split), Olivia Harris (Buford, GA; 52.05), Isabella Kneeshaw (Hawaii; Tualatin, OR; 55.44) and Josie Donelson (Lake Oswego, OR; 53.39).

• Women’s Shot Put Qualifying
  
  

I communicated with the U of Mississippi weight coach just after the U.S. cancelled the U20 team going to Peru in the Spring, he said, “What a shame.  My athlete would have been world champion (his language was actually a bit more colorful than that).

Akaoma Odeluga (Mississippi; Munster, IN) made it into the national consciousness with her consistent high 50s throws this year, topping out at 59-05.75.  She went almost unnoticed in high school having a best of 43-8 and finishing 14th at the 2023 Indiana State Meet.  Indoors at Mississippi she improved to 48-11.5, followed by 51-02.75.  She blossomed outdoors, finishing third at the SEC championships and 11th at the US Olympic Trials where she got here bet of 59-05.75.

Here she was the trials leader, getting the auto qualifier on his second throw (54-03.75) after fouling on her first attempt.

Gracelyn Leiseth (Florida; Hamlin, Hayti, SD), the US U20 Champ, missed making the top 12 cut by 1.5 inches, throwing 47-03.75.

Day 4 Afternoon

• Women’s 200 Meter Final
  
  

Adaejah Hodge (British Virgin Islands; Montverde Academy, Montverde, FL), the US high school leader, had a great start and won with a time of 22.74.  Paris Olympian Torrie Lewis (Australia) was second with a personal best 22.88.  Shanoya Douglas, the Jamaica U20 champ, was third with 23.10.

Taylor Snaere (Modesto JC; East Union, Manteca, CA), a 100 meter finalist, was 5th at 23.31, and US U20 champ Elise Cooper (McDonogh, Owings Mills, MD) was 8th in 23.40.

It was the British Virgin Islands first ever gold in any event and the second medal ever (in any event).

• Women’s 800 Meter Final
  
  

The only sub-2:00 800 meter runners in the field took the gold and silver. Sarah Maraa (Kenya) coming in at 1:59.39 won in 2:00.36, and Paris Olympic semi finalist Nicole Hollingsworth (Australia), entered at 1:58.40, was second in 2:00.67.  The 2023 Nike Indoor Nationals champion Sophia Gorriaran (Harvard; Moses Brown, Providence, RI) was third in 2:01.0

The U.S. has fared well in this event, winning 3 golds, 1 silver and 3 bronze.  Kenya has had the most wins with 5.

• Women’s 3000 Meter Final
  
  

Ethiopia-Kenya-Ethiopia sort of par for the course.  The winner was Aleshign Baweke (8:50.32), followed by Marion Jepngetich (8:52.37) and Marta Alemayo (8:53.64).  Brit Innes Fitzgerald ran a person best 8:57.01 but could manage only fourth.  There were no American qualifiers.  Mary Cain is the only American to ever get a medal, winning gold in 2014.

• Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles Final
  
  

Kerrica Hill (Jamaica) defending her title, running 12.99. Mia Wild (Croatia), coming in with a best of 13.10, finished second in 13.15, and Long Jump champ Delta Amidzovski (Australia) was a surprising third in 13.24.  Nonah Waldron (USC; Oak Park, MI) was fourth in 13.30.

• Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles Semi Finals
  
  

US High School leader, Michelle Smith (US Virgin Islands; Montverde Academy, Montverde, FL) led the qualifiers winning her heat in 56.39.  France’s Meta Tumba, her country’s U20 record holder was next best entry at 56.79. 

2024 Nike Outdoor National bronze medalist Jasmine Robinson (North Cobb, Kennesaw, GA) won her heat at 57.37 and advanced to the final.  2023 Nike Outdoor National bronze medalist, Duke U-bound Braelyn Baker (Bear Creek, Carnation, WA) was 11th overall at 57.97 and did not advance. 

• Women’s Shot Put Final
  
  

Akaoma Odeluga (Mississippi; Munster, IN) was fourth through the preliminary rounds.  Her big throw came in the first throw in the final, tossing the shot 56-10.75.  She finished well ahead of Martina Mazurova (Czechia) second place 53-8.25 personal best, moving her to 6th on the yearly list, and the third place national record (52-06.5)  of Ching-Yuan Chiang (China).  This was the second ever gold for the U.S., the other being Michelle Carter’s in 2004.

• Women’s Javelin Final
  
  

World U20 record holder Yan Ziyi (China) has thrown over 64 meters (64.28, 210-11 and was not really challenged in winning, throwing 206-10.  Asian U20 champion Chiu Pin-Hsun (Chinese Taipei) was second in 178-01.  US U20 champion and IC4A runner up  Evie Bliss (Bucknell; Union-Allegheny-Clarion Valley, Rimersberg, PA) threw a personal best of 177-02 to get the bronze.  That’s the second-ever medal for an American in this event, with Dana Baker getting the same color medal in 2018.

Big 12 runner up Alyssa Keller (BYU; Billings West, Billings, MT) advanced from qualifying earlier, but could only managed 12th, throwing 150-05.

This was the third medal ever for Taipei in any event and the highest rated.  The other two were bronze.

• Men’s 200 Meter Final
  
  

Bayanda Walaza who was on the South African Olympic silver medal 4x100m team, and 100 meter champ, won here in 20.52.  Gout Gout (Australia) ran a personal best 20.60 to get the silver, and Great Britain’s 16 year old Jake Odey-Jordan (Archbishop Carroll, Washington, DC) took the silver in 20.81

Jaden Wiley (Duluth, GA) , U of Florida signee, was 5th in 21.17.

• Men’s 800 Meter Final
  
  

Paris Olympian Peyton Craig (Australia), the heavy favorite, fell victim to a slow pace, finishing second (1:46.95) to fourth seed General Ayansa (Ethiopia, 1:46.86).  Asian U20 Champion Ko Ochiai (Japan) withstood a late charge from John O’Reilly (Canada), 1:47.03 to 1:47.15.  Reilly’s time was a personal best and an exact one second improvement.  The bronze was Japan’s first ever medal in this event.

Daniel Watcke (Villanova; Hillsdale Central, Hillsdale, IL) faded to 8th in 1:50.55.  The U.S. has only won two medals in the history of the event:  silver for Cas Loxsom in 2010 and bronze for Robbie Andrews the same year. 

• Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles Final
  
  

US U20 and SEC champion (and NCAA runner-up) Ja’Kobe Tharp (Auburn; Rockvale, TN) won with a world leading 13.05.  That also breaks the US U20 record by Wayne Davis of 13.08 in winning the 2009 Pan American juniors.  The 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals runner up Andre Korbmacher  (Florida State; Squalicum, Bellingham, WA) got the silver in a personal best of 13.14.  Yangjiang Chen, who looked so good in the prior rounds, was third in 13.21, a national record.

Tharp retains his world U20 lead, and Korbmacher moved into 3rd on the yearly list and Chen fourth.  This was the second 1-2 finish for the Americans in this meet.  Marcus Krah and Amere Lattin accomplished that in 2016.

• Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles Semi Finals
  
  

Semi 2 was a very fast race.  Antti Sainio (Finland) and European U18 champion Michal Rada (Czechia) ran identical times in first and second, both taking the world lead at 49.36.  There was some question as to whether 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals champion and U. of Florida signee Vince Nilsson (Gilbert, AZ) would advance on time based his third place finish, but it would turn out to be the third fastest time of the day (49.82).

Sam Lunt (Great Britain; 50.00) and Joaquin Alonso (Spain; 50.22) both got national records for their countries and advanced to the final.

Premier Wynn (Norfolk State; Pennsauken, NJ) was 18th overall at 52.76, well off his 50.58 best.

• Men’s High Jump Final
  
  

What a great battle between 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals champion and now U. of Arkansas signee Scottie Vines (DeBeque, CO) and Italy’s Matteo Sioli.  Vines had one miss at 7-01.5 and was clean through 7-03.  Sioli had no missed twice at 7-03 before making it.  Both made 7-03.75 on their third attempt, with Vines the leader on misses through that point.  Vines made a personal best of 7-04.5 on his first attempt, and Sioli missed on all three, getting him the silver.  Kaisai Nakatani (Japan) was third at 7-02.25.

NCAA 4th place finisher Tifo Alofe (Harvard; Starrs Mill, Fayetteville, GA) finished =7th at 6-09.75.

Vines moved up to #2 on the 2024 World U20 list, and Sioli #5.  His gold was the second ever for the U.S.  Andra Manson won in 2002.

• Men’s Pole Vault Final
  
  

Hendrik Muller, Germany, one of three 18-footers entered, won the competition with a jump of 17-10.5.  Personal bests got Rikuya Yashida (Japan) the silver (17-08.5) and Jan Krcek (Czechia) the bronze (17-04.5).  That is only the second medal in this event for each Japan and Czechia, the other being bronze for both.

Nike Outdoor Nationals runner up and U of Kansas signee Bryce Barkdull (Andover Central, Andover, KS) was 5th at 17-00.75, and Nike Outdoor Nationals champ Victor Olesen (St. Christopher’s, Richmond, VA), who just finished his high school sophomore year, was tied for 6th at 16-06.75.  The U.S. has only won three medals in the history of the event, a gold, a silver and a bronze.

• Men’s Long Jump Final
  
  

Roko Farkas (Croatia) won with a windy (+2.4) 26-09.75- He had a legal jump of 25-07.5.  Second was Serbia’s Luka Boskovic at 26-00.25.  Mason Mc Groder (Australia) got a personal best of 25-07.25 to get third.  This was the first ever medal of any color in this event for Croatia or Serbia.

• Men’s Decathlon Javelin
  
  

The top 3 remained the same:  Tomas Jarvinen (Czechia, 7679), Hubert Troscianka (Poland, 7448) and Florian Vriezen (Netherlands).  Troscianka was the leader in this event with 224-00.

Americans Kenneth Byrd and Brayden Richards, both having gone pointless in one of their events, are in 22nd and 23rd place.

• Men’s Decathlon 1500 Meters
  
  

Jarvinen (8425), Troscianka (8230) and Vriezen (7820) maintained their medal positions from the prior event.  Kenneth Byrd and Brayden Richards finished 22nd and 23rd.

For Tomas Jarvinen (Czechia), it was a meet record by 235 points.  Hubert Troscianka (Poland) was also over the old meet record.  It was Czechia’s third gold medal in the last 6 World U20 meetings, and the first ever medal for Poland in this event.

Event and marks for Jarvinen

100   10.82
LJ    25-01.75
SP    44-05.25
HJ    6-11.5
400   48.88
110mH 13.78
DT    161-04
PV    15-01
JT     183-00
1500  4:29.78