USATF Reverses Decision, Sending Team to World U20 Championships
After initially announcing that it would not be participating in the World U20 Championships, USATF has reversed its decision and will be sending a team to Lima, Peru in August. The change of heart came after consulting with World Athletics and the Local Organizing Committee in Lima, receiving assurances that safety measures would be in place for the event.
The championships are scheduled to take place from August 26-31, 2024, and USATF will be fielding a team to represent Team USA. This decision comes just a month after USATF pulled out of the event citing concerns such as travel advisories and competitive readiness. However, the safety and well-being of USATF athletes, coaches, managers, and staff remain a top priority for the organization. They have committed to providing their athletes with the highest level of competitive opportunities on their journey to gold.
This is not the first time the U.S. has had to pull out of the World U20 Championships. In 2021, Team USA decided not to participate in the event held in Nairobi, Kenya due to safety concerns related to COVID. However, the U.S. will have the opportunity to host the 2026 World U20 Championships when the competition takes place at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The full team announcement for USATF’s participation in the World U20 Championships will be made after their Under-20 Championships held on June 12-13
