Junior athletes from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines will lead the ASEAN charge at the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 taking place at Hayward Field between 5-9 August.
More than 1800 athletes from 147 member federations are entered for the championships, eleven from ASEAN.
Malaysia will have the largest squad to the championships with four athletes making the cut.
Muhamad Airiel Iskandar Rusli (100m); Danish Ifthikar Muhammad Roslee (100m); Avinaash Nair Sathiaseelan (400m Hurdles) and Azira Izzatul Musfirah Ahmad Kamal (women’s 100m) will spearhead the Malaysian challenge.
Ana Bhianca Espenilla (women’s javelin) and 400m hurdler Jerico Cadag, who delivered silver and bronze medals at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships, will spearhead the Filipino challenge.
The entry lists include several medallists from the last edition of the World U20 Championships in Lima, including Jamaican sprinters Gary Card and Shanoya Douglas, world leaders in the men’s U20 100m and women’s 100m and 200m, respectively.
Australia’s Izobelle Louison-Roe is also in action, looking to build on her high jump silver from two years ago, while Czechia’s Michal Rada, Mexico’s Emiliano Barba and Uganda’s Charity Cherop are also among the entries after securing silver medals in Lima.
Kenya’s Frankline Kibet, who won the world U20 cross-country title in Tallahassee in January, will return to the United States on the hunt for more silverware.
Home stars include Olympic 4x400m champion Quincy Wilson, double US U20 sprint champion Tate Taylor and twins Mia and Mariah Maxwell, who respectively finished first and second in both the 100m and 200m at the US U20 Championships.
MALAYSIA: Muhamad Airiel Iskandar Rusli (100m); Danish Ifthikar Muhammad Roslee (100m); Avinaash Nair Sathiaseelan (400m Hurdles); Azira Izzatul Musfirah Ahmad Kamal (women’s 100m)
INDONESIA: Anugrah Styawan Santoso (110m Hurdles); Azharah Hoshi Fatihah (women’s 200m)
PHILIPPINES: Ivan Cabanda (400m Hurdles); Naomi Marjorie Cesar (women’s 800m); Ana Bhianca Espenilla (women’s javelin)
SINGAPORE: Harry Irfan Curran (200m); Daryen Ko (400m Hurdles)
