EUGENE, OREGON, August 06 — The second day of World Juniors competition featured 6 finals. As at most major championships, much focus was placed on the last two races on the program, the women’s and men’s 100s. They did not disappoint.
In the first, Texan twins Mia (lane 5) and Mariah (lane 7) Maxwell bracketed Jamaican list leader Shanoya Douglas. Mia and Douglas were away first, and ran step-for-step as if synchronized for 60m, until the American opened the slightest lead. Some 5m from the line the Jamaican began her lean, but came up just short, 11.14–11.17 (-0.1 wind).
“As soon as I got out of the blocks, I knew the race was mine,” said Mia. “I continued to execute and run hard through the line like I have in practice. I gotta go to sleep early tonight and rest up for the 200.”
Italy’s European U18 champion Kelly Ann Doualla Edimo was 3rd throughout, the first Italian sprinter to win a world championship medal.
The 3 main protagonists in the men’s century — list-leader Gary Card (Jamaica), Tate Taylor (USA) and Marco Ferreira (South Africa) — occupied lanes 4-5-6.
For the first time at this meet, Taylor had a good start, and the three were even at 10m. By 30m, the American had gained a foot, and galloping all-out in his curious rocking style, he gradually widened his lead. He crossed the line in 9.94 (+0.1), equal-6th-fastest U20 time ever, ahead of a visibly disappointed Card (10.05) and Ferreira (10.16).
Afterward, Taylor said, “There were some tweaks I was looking to fix after the semis, and I think I executed those tweaks pretty well. Once I got up to my top end, I knew it was gonna be a good race for sure.”
Twenty-two women endured debilitating heat and smoke for 2 days in the heptathlon. At the ordeal’s end, one stood clear: Enni Virjonen (Finland), who placed 1st, 2nd or 5th in six events for a final score of 6214, a world lead. Future Oregon Duck Mia Mirela Uusorg (Estonia) was 2nd at 5961, ahead of Swiss Anna Pfister (5850) and the unfortunate Thea Brown (Great Britain), who injured a leg in the javelin and slipped from a secure 2nd to 4th by only 24 points.
Chinese discus ace Yixin Su took the lead with her first throw and was never threatened, finishing with a yearly list leader of 200-4 (61.06). American Jaslene Massey was buried in 6th until her fourth throw, 184-3 (56.17), which moved her to 2nd. Massey subsequently improved to 191-7 (58.41), but had to settle for silver, ahead of an unexpected bronze for Cypriot Marina Hadjicosta.
Su: “Hayward Field feels like a lucky charm for China in the discus. My sister was here in 2022 and was the champion. I hope my achievement will be a great opening for the rest of my teammates.”
Jessica Oji (Nigeria) added to the silver she won at the Commonwealth Games last week with a dominant gold-medal performance in the shot. All four of her legal marks, with a best of 59-4 (18.08) were better than anyone else’s top. Only Belsy Quinonez (Ecuador), with a NR 58-8¾ (17.90), was reasonably close.
Oji, a Penn frosh during the 2025–26 school year, was understandably happy. “This is one of the most anticipated events for me. I’ve always wanted to win a medal in the U20s, and to do it for Nigeria is a whole other thing.”
In the last final, France’s Djelika Diarra long-jumped 21-4¾ (6.52), a U20 world lead, and teammate Soudatou Niang went 20-9¾ (6.34) to capture gold and bronze around Greek Evelyn Mitropoulou’s 21-1½ (6.44) on an evening with almost no wind.
WORLD U20 DAY 2 MEN’S RESULTS
100(0.1): 1. Tate Taylor (US) 9.94 (HSL) (x, =6 WJ; x, 4 AJ, HS);
2. Gary Card (Jam) 10.05; 3. Marko Ferreira (SA) 10.16; 4. Kyler Brown (US) 10.29; 5. Jake Odey-Jordan (GB) 10.31; 6. Richard Machata (Svk) 10.34 =PR.
400 Heats: I–1. Godfed Opoku (Gha) 46.05. II–1. Jabari Matheson (Jam) 46.40. III–1. Dominik Jezernik (Cro) 46.28 PR. IV–1. Malachi Austin (Guy) 46.48. V–1. Jayden Deleon (US) 45.63. VI–1. Leendert Koekemoer (SA) 45.75. VII–1. Quincy Wilson (US) 45.74.
Semis: I–1. Deleon 45.49. II–1. Koekemoer 45.18. III–1. Wilson 45.02.
1500 Heats: I–1. Osama Er-Radouani (Mor) 3:42.23 PR. II–1. David Sekento (Ken) 3:43.60;… 6. Nate Stadtlander (US) 3:45.65. III–1. Wilson Chepkwech (Ken) 3:45.43;… 3. Henry Dixon (US) 3:47.26.
St Heats: I–1. Nicholas Kitum (Ken) 8:45.26 PR. II–1. Emmanuel Someki (Ken) 8:47.61;… 8. Austin Carrera (US) 8:53.45 PR.
400H Heats: I–1. Miller Warme (US) 49.88. II–1. Alex Ibañez (Spa) 50.77. III–1. Lesiba Dikgale (SA) 50.58. IV–1. Jahvanie Tyrell (Jam) 51.02. V–1. Matodzi Ndo (SA) 50.69. VI–1. Taiju Goto (Jpn) 50.45. VII–1. Michal Rada (CzR) 50.68. VIII–1. Keenen Davis (US) 50.97.
Mix4 x 100 Heats: I–1. Australia 41.64. II–1. Great Britain 41.60. III–1. United States 41.82.
Field Events
HJ Qual: Maddox Krotzer (US) 7-¼ (2.14);…dnq—Gage Voyles (US) 6-10¾ (2.10).
PV Qual: Isaiah Whitaker (US) & Jaxon Jerabek (US) 17-2¾ (5.25).
TJ Qual: Miles Nesmith (US) 53-10¼ (16.41) PR (HSL) (4, 4 HS);
… 3f—Justin Arogundade (US).
WORLD U20 WOMEN DAY 2 RESULTS
100(-0.1): 1. Mia Maxwell (US) 11.14; 2. Shanoya Douglas (Jam) 11.17; 3. Kelly Ann Maevane Doualla Edimo (Ita) 11.27; 4. Xenia Buri (Swi) 11.33; 5. Mariah Maxwell (US) 11.35; 6. Theianna-Lee Terrelonge (Jam) 11.37.
400 Heats: I–1. Anastazja Kuś (Pol) 52.55. II–1. Lenka Gymerská (Svk) 53.54. III–1. Ataja Stephane-Vazquez (US) 51.44. IV–1. Tianna Springer (Guy) 52.39. V–1. Alice Hill (Aus) 53.82. VI–1. Daniellia Dixon (Jam) 53.19. VII–1. Clara Adams (US) 53.54.
Semis: I–1. Anastazja Kuś (Pol) 52.43; 2. Adams 52.81. II–1. Stephane-Vazquez 51.76. III–1. Tianna Springer (Guy) 52.48.
1500 Heats: I–1. Caren Chepchirchir (Ken) 4:12.09; 2. Claire Stegall (US) 4:13.09. II–1. Josephine Mancha (Ken) 4:12.21. III–1. Elsabet Amare (Eth) 4:18.24; 2. Ellery Lincoln (US) 4:19.06.
400H Heats: I–1. Alexandra Ștefania Uță (Rom) 57.93. II–1. Eleni Iakovaki (Gre) 58.64. III–1. Mariam Kareem (UAE) 57.87. IV–1. Rania El Hamdaoui (Mor) 58.03. V–1. Rachel Gardner (Jpn) 58.50;… 4. Tatum Lynn (US) 59.94. VI–1. Rebekka Feirle (Ger) 57.89; 2. Natalie Dumas (US) 58.86.
Field Events
LJ: 1. Djelika Diarra (Fra) 21-4¾ (6.52) PR; 2. Evelyn Mitropoulou (Gre) 21-1½ (6.44) PR; 3. Soudatou Niang (Fra) 20-9¾ (6.34) =PR; 4. Bori Rózsahegyi (Hun) 20-7 (6.27); 5. Ella Alvelin Malm (Swe) 20-6¼ (6.25); 6. Daisy Snell (GB) 20-5 (6.22).
Qual:… dnq—Abby Mecklenburg (US) 19-6¾w (5.96), Parker Coes (US) 19-5½ (5.93).
SP: 1. Jessica Oji (Ngr) 59-4 (18.08); 2. Belsy Jenniffer Quiñonez (Ecu) 58-8¾ (17.90) NR; 3. Emily Scherf (Ger) 56-6½ (17.23) PR; 4. Anita Nalesso (Ita) 54-1¾ (16.50); 5. Anhelina Shepel (Ukr) 53-10½ (16.42) PR; 6. María Rafailídou (Gre) 53-3¾ (16.25);… 8. Jaslene Massey (US) 51-3½ (15.63).
Qual: Massey 52-5½ (15.99);… dnq—Addy MacArthur (US) 49-¼ (14.94).
DT: 1. Yixin Su (Chn) 200-4 (61.06) PR; 2. Massey 191-7 (58.41); 3. Marina Hadjicosta (Cyp) 180-1 (54.88); 4. Chenyi Ma (Chn) 179-1 (54.58); 5. Favour Adesokan (Ger) 177-0 (53.97); 6. Amanat Kamboj (Ind) 174-8 (53.24) PR;… 3f—Jillian Scully (US).
Hept: 1. Enni Virjonen (Fin) 6214 PR (13.36, 5-5¼/1.66, 47-1/14.35, 23.99, 20-7¾/6.29, 143-2/43.65, 2:17.25); 2. Mia Mireia Uusorg (Est) 5961 NJR; 3. Anna Pfister (Swi) 5850 PR; 4. Thea Brown (GB) 5826 PR; 5. Natacha Candé (Por) 5773; 6. Maria Schnemilich (Ger) 5670 PR;… 16. Chiora Enyinna-Okeigbo (US) 5290;… 19. Destiny Look (US) 4983.
