World U20 Championships Day 5: Relay action

6 August 2022

World U20 Championships Day 5: Relay action

For the second day in succession the World U20 Championships competition was delayed due to wet weather. Australia were in the final of the 4x100m relay with NSW’s Olivia Rose Inkster running on the second leg. Historically Australia have never placed higher than fifth and in Cali today they were a brilliant sixth, in a time of 45.15 seconds.

Two NSW athletes were members of the women’s 4x400m who were involved in a thrilling heat race in Cali this morning. With three heats, only the first two and two fastest non automatic teams would progress.

Jasmin Guthrie got the team underway on leg one. In fourth place early, on leg three Bella Guthrie moved the team into third. Queenslander Taxi Anglin took the baton for the anchor and early in the leg South Africa passed Australia. But Taxi fought hard and regained third and ran away from the South African over the later stages. After all the heats were completed, it was revealed how important the leg by Txai was as Australia were eight and last into the final, with South Africa missing out.

The team becomes just the second to qualify for the final in this event for 14 years. Australia have the option to bring in 400m finalist Ellie Beer for the final.

In the 800m semis, two NSW athletes were on the start lines, Charlie Jeffreson was in semi 1 and Luke Boyes in semi 3.

From the gun, Charlie was well positioned around fifth and one wide so not to get boxed in, as they passed the bell in 54 seconds. On the second lap Charlie moved up beautifully around 200m to go, as the pace quickened. He held down third and followed the first two in the home straight as they gapped the field. Charlie looked like he would get into the top-2 but fell away in the last 10 metres to place third in an excellent 1:48.45. He would now need to wait to see if he was in the top-2 non-automatic qualifying times.

Luke Boyes was in semi 3 and from the gun it was fast, passing the bell in 51 seconds. Luke finished in 8th place in 1:50.26, just missing his PB. For Charlie the quick race was problematic as third to fifth were faster than him, eliminating him from qualification to the final.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Australian 4x400m relay team. (image courtesy of Getty images for Athletics Australia)