World under 20 athletics championship 2022: Australian, NSW teens to watch in Cali, Colombia

They are some of the most exciting young talent in world athletics. Meet some of the teen tyros heading to the world under 20 athletics championships in Cali, Colombia.

Some of the top athletic talent form NSW competing at the world under 20 championships.

There are speedsters, twins, rising stars of the track, sons of guns and the youngest member of the Australian athletics team heading to the world U20 athletics championships - and they hail from NSW.

NSW teen stars make up more than a quarter of the Australian team to represent at Cali 2022 from August 1-6 year with the likes of Hunters Hill’s Charlie Jeffreson in the 800m, national junior team debutant Mitchell Lightfoot from Largs in the 100m hurdles and Bella Guthrie in the 400m hurdles among our best chances of success in Colombia.

NSW athlete Erin Shaw from Frenchs Forest winning gold at the nationals.

Jasmin Guthrie, Frenchs Forest high-jumper Erin Shaw, Jefferson, Mosman’s Nicola Hogg and Ambarvale’s Aleksandra Stoilova were selected last year but then grounded in Australia after the 2021 world championships event was cancelled due to Covid.

This time it’s all set to go ahead with Guthrie joined by twin sister Bella and a host of NSW teammates, including the son of a Wallaby and the baby of the team.

The 10 NSW debutants on the national junior team are Coffs Harbour’s Hayley Kitching, Paddington’s Laura Roderick, Delta Amidzovski, Isabella Guthrie, Blue Haven’s Katie Gunn, Allambie height’s Olivia Rose Inkster, Glenbrook’s Luke Boyes, Patrick Cantlon, Lightfoot, Lindfield’s Dominic Panozzo and Pymble’s Connor Bond.

NSW athlete Mitchell Lightfoot from Largs wind gold. Lightfoot is congratulated by one of the Guthrie twins after winning at the nationals. Pic: Julian Andrews

Bella, selected for the 400m hurdles, and Jasmin, competing in the 400m, race different individual event but at the recent Australian championships combined in a team to win the U20 4x400m race by smashing an 18-year-old meet record.

They will join forces in this same event in Cali.

The Mount Kur-ring-gai sisters are only the second twins to represent Australia in the sport with Amy Harding-Delooze and Lily Harding-Delooze competing together on the 2015 Commonwealth Games Youth Team.

Isabella and Jasmin Guthrie from Mount Ku-ring-gai.

Albion Park’s Amidzovski at 15 is the youngest athlete on the team but brings great form into her team selection after winning four Australian titles at the recent nationals in Sydney.

This followed on from a haul of top results in an assortment of events at championships including the NSW All Schools, NSW championships and Little Athletics NSW titles.

Distance runner Hayley Kitching was an automatic selection in the 800m after her win in the trial race with exciting young talent Jeffreson also confirming his spot on the team with a win at the Australian championships.

Luke Boyes finished second to Jeffreson to secure his spot while Patrick Cantlon finished second in the 1500m and 3000m at nationals in a performance that impressed.

Patrick Cantlon in the 1500m final at the nationals.

EVERY MEMBER OF THE AUSTRALIAN U20 WORLD ATHLETICS TEAM AND THEIR EVENT IN CALI IN AUGUST

GIRLS

100m: Taylah Cruttenden WA (Braiden Clarke, West Track Club Athletic Club), Torrie Lewis QLD (Gerrard Keating, Gold Coast Victory Athletics)

200m: Georgia Harris QLD (Paul Pearce, Sheldon Academy of Sport), Torrie Lewis

400m: Ellie Beer QLD (Brett Robinson, Ignition Athletic Club), Jasmin Guthrie NSW (Angus McEntyre, UTS Norths Athletic Club)

800m: Claudia Hollingsworth VIC (Craig Mottram, Mentone Athletic Club), Hayley Kitching NSW (Tim Kitching, Coffs Harbour Athletics Club)

1500m: Nicola Hogg NSW (Ben Liddy, UTS Norths Athletic Club), Lucinda Rourke VIC (Craig Mottram, Williamstown Athletics Club)

3000m: Amy Bunnage VIC (Tim O’Shaughnessy, Mentone Athletic Club), Nicola Hogg

5000m: Laura Roderick NSW (William and Jordan Williams, Randwick Botany Athletic Club)

100m Hurdles: Delta Amidzovski NSW (Roger Fabri, Athletics Wollongong), Emelia Surch QLD (Glynis Nunn, Ignition Athletic Club)

Laura Roderick from Paddington after her 3000m win.

400m Hurdles: Isabella Guthrie NSW (Angus McEntyre, UTS Norths Athletic Club), Ashley Spencer WA (Remo Pollastri, Uni of WA Athletic Club)

3000m Steeplechase: Laura McKillop QLD (Andrew Lulham, Redlands Athletic Club), Emily Morden VIC (Phillip Molesworth, Athletics South West)

High Jump: Erin Shaw NSW (Jack McArdle, UTS Norths Athletic Club), Toby Stolberg QLD (Theresa Stolberg, Ipswich & District Athletic Club)

Pole Vault: Cassidy Bradshaw VIC (Chris Bradshaw, Deakin Athletic Club)

Long Jump: Katie Gunn NSW (Matthew Horsnell, Gosford Athletic Club), Emelia Surch

Triple Jump: Tiana Boras VIC (Alwyn Jones, Athletics Chillwell)

Discus Throw: Marley Raikiwasa SA (Steve Larsson, Tea Tree Gully Athletic Club), Laylani Va’ai QLD (Michael Moore, Ipswich and Districts Athletic Club).

Javelin Throw: Mackenzie Mielczarek VIC (Stephen Cain, Corio Athletic Club).

10,000m Walk: Olivia Sandery SA (Bob Cruise & Jared Tallent, Pembroke Athletic Club), Alanna Peart SA (Jared Tallent, Ballarat YCW)

4 x 100m relay: Taylah Cruttenden, Georgia Harris, Olivia Rose Inkster (Melinda Gainsford-Taylor & Katie Edwards, UTS Norths Athletic Club), Torrie Lewis, Hayley Reynolds QLD (Andrew Lulham, Lockyer District Athletic Club), Aleksandra Stoilova (Hayden Kovacic, Westfelds Athletic Club)

4 x 400m relay: Txai Anglin QLD (Travis Venema, QUT Athletic Club), Ellie Beer, Isabella Guthrie, Jasmin Guthrie, Annie Pfeiffer (Lyn Foreman, Uni WA Athletic Club)

U20 110m Hurdles Final winner Mitchell Lightfoot from Largs at the nationals.

BOYS

100m: Jai Gordon QLD (Jaqueline Gallagher, Darling Downs Athletic Club), Calab Law QLD (Andrew Iselin, Mayne Harriers Amateur Athletic Club)

200m: Calab Law, Aidan Murphy SA (Peter Fitzgerald, Saints Athletic Club)

400m: Cooper Sherman VIC (Neville Down, Ballarat Harriers).

800m: Luke Boyes NSW (Ben St Lawrence, Run Crew), Charlie Jeffreson NSW (Penny Gillies, The King’s School Athletic Club)

1500m: Patrick Cantlon NSW (Owen Stewart, Trinity Athletic Club), Peyton Craig QLD (Brendan Mallyon, Uni of Sunshine Coast Athletic Club)

3000m: Patrick Cantlon, Thomas Diamond VIC (Stephen Ellinghaus, Box Hill Athletics Club)

5000m: Archie Noakes VIC (Charlotte Wilson, Athletics Essendon), Charlie Sprott QLD (Jayden Russ, Uni of QLD Athletic Club)

110m Hurdles: Mitchell Lightfoot NSW (Andy Burton, Maitland Athletic Club), Tayleb Willis VIC (Peter Benifer, Ringwood Athletics Club)

400m Hurdles: Kyle Bennett QLD (Sharon Dale, Thompson Estate Eastern Suburbs Athletic Club), Dominic Panozzo (Deb Walsham, UTS Norths Athletic Club)

3000m Steeplechase: Archie Noakes, Flynn Pumpa (Jayden Russ, Uni of QLD Athletic Club)

High Jump: Lachlan O’Keefe (Paul Cleary, Wendouree Athletic club)

Connor Bond, left with the Guthrie twins, right.

Pole Vault: Liam Georgilopoulos QLD (Howard Arbuthnot, Gold Coast Victory Athletics), James Woods VIC (Bill Georgantis, Keilor St-Bernard’s Athletic Club)

Long Jump: Blake Shaw VIC (Chloe Stevens, Frankston Athletic Club)

Triple Jump: Aiden Hinson VIC (Chloe Stevens, Frankston Athletic Club)

Discus Throw: Darcy Miller SA (Steve Larsson, Saints Athletic Club), Etienne Rousseau WA (Didier Poppe, Uni of WA Athletic Club).

4x100m Relay: Connor Bond (Mick Zisti, UTS Norths Athletic Club), Jai Gordon, Calab Law, Lachlan Kennedy (Russel Hansen, Uni of QLD Athletic Club), Aidan Murphy, Ryan Tarrant VIC (Adam Larcom, Essendon Athletic Club).

Mixed 4 x 400m Relay: Brodie Hicks VIC (Steven Gaffney, Essendon Athletic Club), Thomas Reynolds VIC (Matt Oakley, Doncaster Athletic Club)