29 NSW Athletes bound for World Juniors

19 May 2026

29 NSW Athletes bound for World Juniors

A strong representation of 29 NSW athletes have been selected in the 75-strong Australian team for the 2026 World U20 Championships to be held at the famous Hayward Field at Track Town USA, in Eugene in America.

The team is headed by a duo of NSW athletes, Izzi Louiseon-Roe and Mason McGroder, that won medals at the 2024 Championships. They are joined by two other NSW stars who were on the 2024 team, Isaac Beacroft and Daniel Williams. Over the two years since 2024, all four have continued to improve and all four a medal hopes in Eugene.

One incredible achievement is by coach David Beacroft who coaches all four race walkers on the Australian team. He guides the three NSW athletes, Isaac Beacrodt, Sophie Polkinghorne and Zoe Woods, along with ACT athlete Owen Toyne.

While for some athletes it was just a matter of nailing the standard as only one or two had achieved a qualifier, for some others they had to defeat a dozen or more qualifiers.

NSW quarter-mile duo Alice Hill and Shari Hurdman, have grabbed the two available places ahead of 10 qualifiers. Hill was not on the radar just four months ago, actually the World U20s was not on her radar in January, until a break through run in Dubbo at the Country Championships.

Half-miler, Ivy Boothroyd, who has missed multiple junior teams due to injury, placed second in the trials behind Queenslander Emma Fryga. The overcame 17 athletes to secure their places on the team. After just missing the 2024 team, Chase Grant, who nailed qualifiers in all three sprints, guaranteed his selection winning the 400m.

To support our athletes heading to Eugene, those entering any NSW Athletics event will have the option to make a tax-deductible donation to the Centenary Trust. Donations can also be made at any time via asf.org.au/campaigns/athletics-nsw-ltd. All contributions go directly towards helping athletes cover costs including flights, accommodation and physiotherapy.

NSW Members of the Australian team for the 2026 World U20 Championships

Men (15):

100m:Zavier Peacock (Michael Psarakis & David Peacock, Bankstown)

200m: Peacock

400m: Chase Grant (Melissa Smith, Athletics Wollongong, Wollongong City LA)

800m:Harry Halleen (Gary Howard, Run Crew), Daniel Williams (Andrew Rowlings, Byron Bay Runners)

3000m: Matthew McLachlan (Ben Liddy, Trinity Athletics Club)

110m Hurdles: Oliver Facer (Steve & Catherine Soroijevic, Bankstown Sports)

400m Hurdles: Will Tait (Terry West, Grafton Athletics Club), Ethan Williams (Peter Gentz, Singleton Track & Field)

5000m Racewalk: Isaac Beacroft (David Beacroft, Hill Districts Amateur Athletics Club, Quakers Hill LAC)

Long Jump: Mason McGroder (Matthew Wade, Trinity Athletics Club), Luke Vrataric (Leo Dulay, Hills District)

Triple Jump: Lian Anagnostopoulos (Leo Dulay, Hills District Senior Athletics Club, Balmain Little Athletics), Daniel Okerenyang (Greg Wiencke, Kooringal Wagga Athletics Club, Kooringal Wagga little Athletics Club)

4x400m Relay:Grant, Fred Hamblin (Rob Marks & Ben Gavan, University of Sydney)

4x100m Relay: Dylan Hall (Jack Darcy, Hornsby District Athletics, Ku ring gai Little Athletics), Peacock

Women (14):

100m:Maya Taber (Randwick Botany Harriers, South Eastern Little Athletics)

400m: Alice Hill (Tim Eschebach, Newcastle Runners), Shari Hurdman (Mingara Athletics Club)

800m: Ivy Boothroyd (Ned Brophy Williams, Sutherland District Athletics Club, Sutherland little Athletics)

3000m: Eliza Lawton (Vaughan Lawton & Deb Walsham, Manly Warringah)

100m Hurdles: Tammin Lampret (Matthew Wade/Angus McEntyre, Sutherland Districts, Port Hacking LAs)

400m Hurdles: Maiya Hewitt (Joshua Hewitt, Athletics Wollongong, Kiama Little Athletics)

5000m Racewalk: Sophie Polkinghorne (David Beacroft, Hills District Athletics Club, North Rocks Carlingford Little Athletics Centre), Zoe Woods (David Beacroft, Hills District, Kuringgai LAs)

High Jump: Izobelle Louison-Roe (Karen Roe, St George District Athletics Club, Port Hacking Little Athletics)

Triple Jump: Louison-Roe

Shot put: Manaia Coulter (David Bruce, Bankstown Sports, Bankstown Sports and Prestons LAs)

Discus Throw: Chelsy Wayne (Rowan Vergano, Athletics Wollongong)

4x400m Relay: Samara Bond (Katie Edwards & Melinda Gainsford Taylor, UTS Norths), Hill, Hurdman, Naomi Krajancic (Garry Temple, Manly Warringah)

4x100m Relay: Taber

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Matthew McLachlan and Manaia Coulter (images courtesy of David Tarbotton)