Twenty Nigerian track and field athletes are among over 1,700 competitors from 134 countries gathered in Lima, Peru, for the 2024 World Athletics Under-20 Championships. The event is taking place at the Estadio Atlético de la Videna, with competitions running from Tuesday to Saturday.
Many of the young Nigerian athletes are making their international debuts at this championship, while others have followed a path that included competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The list of Olympians participating in this age-group event is extensive, featuring athletes like South Africa’s Bradley Nkoana and Bayanda Walaza, who secured a silver medal in the men’s 4×100 meters relay in Paris, and Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew, who placed fifth in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
Other notable Olympians include Jamaica’s Alana Reid, who competed in the 4x100m relay, and Australia’s Torrie Lewis, who participated in the 200m and 4x100m relay events in Paris. The championship also features defending champions from the previous edition in Cali 2022, such as Estonia’s Karmen Bruus (high jump), Uzbekistan’s Sharifa Davronova (triple jump), Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa (5000m), and Jamaica’s Kerrica Hill (100m hurdles).
The scale of the championship is impressive, with large teams from several countries, including the U.S. with 100 entries, Germany with 92, and Australia with 68.
