Lima, Peru; 29 August, 2024 – Inspired by Olympic champion Nina Kennedy, South Australian pole vaulter Tryphena Hewett has secured Australia’s fourth medal at the 2024 World Athletics Under 20 Championships with a breakthrough bronze as Olympic semi-finalists Torrie Lewis, Peyton Craig and Claudia Hollingsworth bolted to victories in their respective semi-finals.
Hewett battled through a shaky start requiring all three attempts at her opening height of 3.95m, proceeding to compose herself during the competition to clear 4.05m and then 4.15m to land global bronze.
“After the first two fouls, I thought I was going to no-height, honestly. I thought if I could just make a height I would be happy. After that I started to get into a rhythm and slowly found a bit of a groove even though my poles were all over the place. It was getting colder and the wind was swirling,” Hewett said.
Buoyed by the success of her senior counterpart Olympic champion Nina Kennedy, the new global medallist hopes to soar to greater heights in the future.
“I was having a shocking month of training before the Olympics and I didn’t even know if I could get my full run working here, but I watched Nina do her thing and this motivation just clicked,” Hewett said.
“Since then I have been taking off in training, wanting to jump, feeling that confidence she brought by winning that medal. There are so many more heights that I am ready to get, it wasn’t today but I know it will come soon.”
Racing to seventh place in the world over 400m was 17-year-old Terrell Thorne (QLD) in 47.11 seconds, who remains eligible for the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships to be raced in Eugene, Oregon.
“Obviously it wasn’t the race that I wanted, but at the end of the day I came here wanting a spot in the top 15. Being seventh in the world is huge for me considering how new I am to the event, I ran my first 400m less than two years ago,” Thorne said.
Olympic semi-finalists Peyton Craig (QLD) and Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC) cruised to victory in their respective 800m semi-finals, clocking times of 1:47.31 and 2:03.52 to warm up their legs for tomorrow’s final.
While Hollingsworth commanded her race from gun-to-tape, Craig looked a step off the pace before mustering his trademark finish to stamp his presence as the man to beat.
“I came here to win this title and you have to be in the final to do that. I was surprised by how quick the first lap was but I know I’m comfortable at that pace, so it’s a matter of relaxing until the last 100m and then opening up a bit,” Craig said.
Australia posted three winners in the 200m semi-finals as Torrie Lewis (QLD), Jessica Milat (VIC) and Gout Gout (QLD) roared to victory in slick times – while Zach Della Rocca (VIC) also qualified on time to set up blockbuster finals tomorrow.
Lewis and Gout were the fastest qualifiers in times of 23.14 (-0.6) and 21.07 (-0.9) respectively.
“I took the bend how I wanted it and then I was able to look at the camera and then slow down a bit because I could see I was a little bit in front,” Lewis said.
Fresh off securing the World Under 20 title in the Women’s Long Jump last night, Delta Amidzovski (NSW) returned with immediate impact to set a career-best 13.22 (+0.5) in the 100m Hurdles heats – doubling back to qualify for the final with sixth place overall in the semi-finals.
Middle-distance runners Mia Toohey (NSW) and Ky Hehir (WA) took to the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase and Men’s 3000m events respectively, claiming 13th and 16th placings, while triple jumper Alex Epitropakis (QLD) was forced to retire from the final after one jump.
Decathlete Jack Whiteside (WA) wound up the opening day of his campaign with a personal best of 49.55 seconds over 400m, becoming a sub-50 second man and finishing the day on 3720 points – sitting in 12th position from 27 starters.
Adding to what has been a happy hunting ground with finals in the field in Lima will be high jumper Izobelle Louison-Roe (NSW), and long jumpers Mason McGroder (NSW) and Jesuye Doherty (SA) – all progressing from qualification rounds with strong markers and competitive rankings.
The World Under 20 Championships continues tomorrow and concludes on Saturday, August 31. Australian viewers can watch it live and free on World Athletics’ Inside Track platform.
