By Cory Mull | MileSplit USA
U.S.A. Track and Field announced on Monday, a little over four months out from the World U20 (under 20) Championships in Lima, Peru, that it is pulling its involvement from the championship meet, citing various issues, including travel advisories and competitive readiness.
Peru currently has a Level 2 travel advisory according to the U.S. Department of State, along with Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Sweden.
USATF also cited the date of the event — August 26-31 — and noted that it will be problematic for “many high school and college athletes as many will have already returned to school/campuses for the 2024-2025 calendar year.”
The United States last entered a U20 team in 2022 in Cali, Colombia, a country that currently is in a Level 3 advisory, and was the top medal-earner from the event.
The last two World U20 Championship meets have taken place in August. The U.S. also pulled out from World U20s in Nairobi, Kenya, also citing safety advisories and concerns around COVID.
Since 1994, the U.S. has dominated the medal stand at World U20s, leading medal count nine times over the last 15 meets.
In March, USATF partnered with the National Scholastic Foundation, the operator of Nike Outdoor Nationals, to integrate the U.S. U20 Outdoor Championships within the meet program. The championship meet, held on the same weekend as New Balance Nationals Outdoor, is set for June 12-15 in 2024.
“By combining forces, we are poised to deliver an extraordinary event for the next generation of track and field stars.”