By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The World Athletics Outdoor Championships are scheduled for July 15-24 at Hayward Field.

RUNNERSPACE LIVE NIGHTLY AT WILD DUCK CAFE JULY 15-25

The following are 22 athletes under age 22, including 11 men and 11 women, to keep an eye on throughout the meet as the future of the sport is showcased in Eugene, Ore:

Mekides Abebe, Ethiopia, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 21

After placing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and elevating to the No. 11 competitor in history at 9:02.52 last year, Abebe has opportunities to become both the youngest World Championships medalist and winner in the event in the July 20 final. Russia’s Yuliya Zarudneva was 23 years, 113 days when she captured the gold medal in 2009 in Berlin. Gesa Felicitas-Krause of Germany earned bronze at 23 years, 23 days in 2015 in Beijing. Winfred Yavi of Bahrain, one of the leading contenders for this year’s title, was 17 when she reached her first final and placed eighth in 2017 in London. Abebe enters the meet with the third-fastest performance in the world this year at 9:03.26.

Mykolas Alekna, Lithuania, discus throw, 19

Just by qualifying for the July 19 final, Alekna will make history as the youngest male athlete to achieve the feat at the World Championships, eclipsing the previous record of Russia’s Victor Butenko, who finished eighth on home soil in Moscow in 2013. The NCAA record holder at Cal built on his seasonal-best 225-6 (68.73m) by throwing the all-dates collegiate mark of 229 feet (69.81m) on June 30 in Stockholm. Alekna is aiming to unseat a pair of German athletes as the youngest World champion and medalist in event history. Lars Riedel captured the World title at age 24 in 1991 in Tokyo and Robert Harting was 22 when he secured silver in 2007 in Osaka.

Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia, 100 meters, 21

Katrin Krabbe of Germany holds World Championships records for being both the youngest champion and medalist in the 100-meter dash with her victory at 21 years, 278 days in 1991 in Tokyo. Alfred, having turned 21 in June, would improve on that mark by more than 200 days if she can make the podium in the July 17 final. The Texas standout ran a wind-legal 10.81 seconds May 15 at the Big 12 Conference final to match the No. 25 all-time competitor and she is equal to the No. 4 athlete in the world this year. The NCAA Division 1 champion has also produced a pair of wind-aided 10.80 performances this season. Melissa Jefferson of Coastal Carolina, the U.S. champion with a wind-aided 10.69 performance June 24 at Hayward Field, would also be eligible to be the youngest champion or medalist in the event competing in the final at 21 years, 147 days. Alfred prevailed against Jefferson in their June 11 showdown in the Division 1 championship race.

Britany Anderson, Jamaica, 100-meter hurdles, 21

The 2017 World Under-18 gold medalist could add to her impressive resume in the July 24 final by becoming the youngest champion and medalist in event history. Glory Alozie of Nigeria earned the silver medal in 1999 in Seville, Spain, and remains the youngest medalist at 21 years, 241 days. American Brianna McNeal captured the World title in 2013 in Moscow just a day shy of her 22nd birthday. Anderson is one of 20 female competitors in history with a wind-legal performance of 12.40 seconds or faster, achieving that mark in the Olympic semifinals last year on her way to placing eighth in the Tokyo final. She is looking to move up at least one spot from her fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles in March at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia.

Alia Armstrong, United States, 100-meter hurdles, 21

The reigning NCAA Division 1 champion from LSU was born six days ahead of Britany Anderson from Jamaica, making her eligible to achieve the same history if she can follow a third-place finish June 25 at the USATF Championships in a wind-legal 12.47 seconds with another podium performance in the July 24 final on the same Hayward Field track. Armstrong boasts the second-fastest all-conditions effort in the world this year with her wind-aided 12.33 mark in March at the 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, the same day fellow American Keni Harrison ran a wind-aided 12.32 in a different race. With Nia Ali, 33, returning as the 2019 World gold medalist, the Americans have strong potential to place four athletes in the championship race.

Ackeem Blake, Jamaica, 100 meters and 4x100 relay, 20

Fellow Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake (no relation) remains the youngest World 100-meter gold medalist in history when he captured the title at age 21 in 2011 in Daegu, South Korea. Although Ackeem Blake isn’t considered a championship favorite, he has lowered his personal-best mark from 10.35 last year to 9.93 and has produced three sub-10 performances this season. If Jamaica can capture its first 4x100 gold medal since 2015 in Beijing, Ackeem Blake would become the youngest relay winner in World Championship history at 20 years, 185 days, taking that honor from fellow Jamaican Dexter Lee, who was 20 years, 229 days when he ran in the prelims in 2011 as a dress rehearsal for a group that would set a then-world record 37.04 with Usain Bolt as the anchor leg in the 4x100 final in Daegu.

Max Burgin, Great Britain, 800 meters, 20

Although Ethiopia’s Mohammed Aman is the youngest champion and medalist in the event with his victory at age 19 in 2013 in Moscow, there hasn’t been this much potential globally for an 800-meter athlete before his 21st birthday since that memorable achievement. Great Britain has earned one medal in the men’s 800 in World Championships history, with Peter Elliott securing silver in 1987 in Rome, and has high aspirations for Burgin, who enters the meet with a world-leading 1:43.52 effort from June 14 in Finland. Burgin has only raced four times this year, but three of the performances have been sub-1:45 marks, relying on aggressive approach that is similar to the front-running tactics of Kenyan legend and world-record holder David Rudisha, who captured gold medals in 2011 and 2015, along with producing his all-time best 1:40.91 at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Talitha Diggs, United States, 400 meters and 4x400 relay, 19

Only the second female athlete to sweep the NCAA Division 1 indoor and outdoor 400-meter titles, in addition to winning the U.S. outdoor crown in the same year, Diggs joined former Arizona State standout Maicel Malone Wallace in 1990 in achieving the feat when she prevailed June 25 in 50.22 seconds at Hayward Field. Although an appearance in the July 22 championship race wouldn’t be enough for Diggs to become the youngest finalist in event history, with Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser achieving the feat at 19 years, 78 days when she grabbed a silver medal in 2017 in London – Diggs would be 19 years, 335 days – the Florida standout does have the potential to secure the record as the youngest champion. Eid Naser was 21 when she triumphed in 2019 in Doha. Diggs enters the meet with the No. 4 performance in the world this year at 49.99.

Joseph Fahnbulleh, Liberia, 200 meters, 20

No Liberian athlete, regardless of age or gender, has ever advanced to a World Championships final in any event, with Fahnbulleh highly motivated to follow his fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics by achieving another first for his country. Emmanuel Matadi reached the semifinals of the 100-meter dash at age 26 in 2017 in London, placing 14th overall for Liberia. Fahnbulleh, the NCAA Division 1 champion in the 100 and 200, has equaled the sixth-fastest wind-legal mark in the world this year at 19.83 seconds with his winning effort June 10 at Hayward Field. Florida is already connected to the youngest 200 finalist in meet history, with former Gator standout Abdul Hakim Sani Brown finishing seventh at age 18 in 2017 in London.

Anna Hall, United States, heptathlon, 21

The youngest overall entry in the heptathlon competition in Oregon, Hall is one of two 21-year-old female athletes from Florida with the potential to make a big impact once again at Hayward Field after contributing to the Gators capturing their first NCAA Division 1 women’s outdoor team title in program history June 11 in Eugene. Jasmine Moore is the only American female athlete to ever qualify for the long jump and triple jump at the World Championships, in addition to becoming the only second women’s competitor in Division 1 history to sweep indoor and outdoor championships in both events in the same year, along with Sheila Hudson from Cal in 1990. Hall, the NCAA indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon champion along with winning the U.S. heptathlon crown in May in Arkansas, boasts the No. 2 score in the world this year at 6,458 points and is looking to become only the fourth American to medal in the heptathlon at the World Championships, joining Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jane Frederick and Sheila Burrell.

Keely Hodgkinson, Great Britain, 800 meters, 20

Since South Africa’s Caster Semenya already holds the record for being the youngest 800-meter gold medalist at age 18 in 2009 in Berlin, Hodgkinson and American Athing Mu will continue to battle for bragging rights as not just two of the best in history at their age, but also determining once again who is the top female athlete in the world in their event. Hodgkinson secured a silver medal last year in Tokyo in a British record 1:55.88 and is one of five competitors in the field this season to have run sub-1:58. Jenny Meadows was the last British athlete to medal in the 800 at the World Championships, earning bronze in 2009 in the same race that Semenya captured her first global title. Hodgkinson could become the first British champion in the event in the July 24 final, with Kelly Holmes securing a pair of medals in 1995 and 2003.

Erriyon Knighton, United States, 200 meters, 18

When Noah Lyles won the World title in 2019 in Doha, he became the youngest athlete in history to achieve the feat at age 22. But that honor could belong to Knighton following the July 21 final, only adding to his motivation after being edged by Lyles by a 19.67 to 19.69 margin June 26 at the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Knighton, who finished fourth in last year’s Olympic final in Tokyo, enters the competition as the world leader with his 19.49 effort April 30 at LSU. Although just making the final wouldn’t make Knighton the youngest in history to achieve the feat, as Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown would have a 17-day advantage in that category, capturing a medal would produce a record for the American standout. Panama’s Alonso Edward was 19 when he took silver in Usain Bolt’s world-record 19.19 race in 2009 in Berlin.

Mykhaylo Kokhan, Ukraine, hammer throw, 21

It has been a steady progression for Kokhan, who has developed into one of the elite global competitors since winning a World Under-18 title in 2017 in Kenya. He secured silver at the World Under-20 Championships in 2018 in Finland, followed by a fifth-place finish in 2019 in Doha and a fourth-place effort at last year’s Olympics in Tokyo. Kokhan surpassed the 80-meter mark last year with a personal-best 265 feet (80.78m) in Hungary and enters the meet No. 13 in the world this season at 256-2 (78.09m). But if he can ascend to the next level and make the podium, Kokhan would become the youngest medalist in World Championships history, eclipsing the performance of Hungary’s Bence Halasz, who earned bronze at age 22 in 2019. The youngest all-time World champion remains Poland’s Pawel Fajdek, who won the first of his four consecutive gold medals at age 24 in 2013 in Moscow.

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Ukraine, high jump, 20

Already the youngest high jump medalist, regardless of gender, in World Championships history when she captured silver at age 18 in 2019 in Doha, Mahuchikh is now attempting to eclipse the record for youngest champion as well in the July 19 final. Cuba’s Ioamnet Quintero was 20 years, 337 days when she triumphed in 1993 in Stuttgart, Germany. Mahuchikh, the reigning World Indoor gold medalist, would be 20 years, 304 days if she can capture the championship at Hayward Field, where she already prevailed May 27 at the Prefontaine Classic. Mahuchikh enters the competition with a world-leading 6-8 (2.03m) from June 22 in the Czech Republic and is looking to surpass her outdoor best of 6-8.25 (2.04m) from her runner-up finish in Doha, along with her all-time indoor clearance of 6-9 (2.06m) from last year in Slovakia.

Athing Mu, United States, 800 meters and 4x400 relay, 20

Becoming the first American female athlete to win an Olympic 800-meter title since Madeline Manning Mims in 1968 in Mexico City was an incredible achievement for Mu at age 19. But the opportunity is even greater for the former NCAA Division 1 champion at Texas A&M, as Mu has the potential to end the U.S. drought and become the first women’s 800 gold medalist in meet history, which began in 1983. Already the No. 8 all-time competitor at 1:55.04, Mu leads a strong American trio ready to compete on home soil, including 2012 World Under-20 gold medalist Ajee’ Wilson, who has earned bronze at the past two World Championships in 2017 and 2019, along with Doha silver medalist Raevyn Rogers. Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso and Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson all have the potential to be finalists at age 20, along with Mu, the world leader this year at 1:57.01.

Favour Ofili, Nigeria, 100 meters and 200 meters, 19

A pair of targets are present for Ofili if she can medal in either the 100-meter final July 17 or the 200-meter championship race July 21 at Hayward Field. Ofili has the potential to become the youngest medalist in either event, including the pursuit of a 200 record held by Allyson Felix since 2005 in Helsinki. Ofili would be 19 years, 203 days if she can secure a medal in the 200 final, which would take down the existing mark of 19 years, 267 days established by Felix when she won the title in Finland. Katrin Krabbe of Germany was 21 when she captured the 100 gold medal in 1991 in Tokyo. Ofili, who boasts wind-legal marks of 10.93 and 21.96 this season, would just miss becoming the youngest finalist in either event, with Jamaica’s Nikole Mitchell achieving the feat in the 100 at 19 years, 72 days in 2003 in Paris and Bahamian star Shaunae Miller-Uibo finishing fourth in the 200 final at 19 years, 123 days in 2013 in Moscow.

Randolph Ross, United States, 400 meters and 4x400 relay, 21

There is plenty of motivation for Ross entering his World Championships debut after being eliminated in the first round of the 400 meters last year in Tokyo, in addition to only racing in the prelims of the 4x400 relay that went on to secure an Olympic gold medal. As the No. 10 competitor in American history and 14th all-time in the 400 with his victorious 43.85 effort at last year’s NCAA Division 1 Championships, Ross is not only capable of advancing to the July 22 final, but also contending for a medal. Although he hasn’t produced another sub-44 effort this season, Ross did sweep the Division 1 indoor and outdoor titles, along with running 44.17 to take third June 25 at the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. His winning performance of 44.13 on June 10 at the NCAA final makes Ross the No. 4 competitor in the world entering the meet, trailing fellow Americans Michael Norman (43.56) and Champion Allison (43.70), along with the youngest World gold medalist in history Kirani James of Grenada (44.02), who won the title at 18 in 2011 in South Korea.

Letsile Tebogo, Botswana, 100 meters, 19

The defending World Under-20 champion from last year in Kenya, Tebogo is ready to challenge himself at the highest level following his wind-legal national record 9.96 performance April 30 in Botswana. Although he ran the fastest wind-legal World Under-20 time in history, surpassing the 9.97 effort achieved in 2014 by American Trayvon Bromell, World Athletics has not recognized Tebogo’s mark as the record based on insufficient equipment testing. Tebogo got a preview of Hayward Field when he competed May 28 at the Prefontaine Classic, finishing fifth in a wind-legal 10.12. Botswana has never had a male athlete advance past the first round in the 100 in meet history, an achievement Tebogo appears more than capable of accomplishing in his July 15 opening race.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Kenya, 800 meters, 17

Following a stunning 1:43.76 effort last year to win the World Under-20 gold medal in his native Nairobi just days after turning 17, Wanyonyi has continued his momentum this season, holding his own June 25 at the Kenyan Trials by clocking 1:44.01 to secure his World Championships debut. Although he enters the competition ranked No. 8 globally this year, with fellow Kenyan Wycliffe Kinyamal Kisasy boasting the second-fastest performance to win the national title at 1:43.54, if Wanyonyi can capture a medal in the July 23 final, he would become the youngest male athlete in meet history to achieve the feat. Ethiopia’s Mohammed Aman was 19 when she won the 800 title in 2013 in Moscow. Wanyonyi also has the potential to become the youngest male competitor in any event at the World Championships to win a gold medal. Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba is the only 17-year-old female athlete to capture a World title when she won the 5,000 crown in 2003 in Paris.

Britton Wilson, United States, 400-meter hurdles, 21

Competing in an era with four of the five fastest women in history in the 400 hurdles might be intimidating for some athletes, but Wilson is embracing the challenge with her sights set on the July 22 final. The NCAA Division 1 champion at Arkansas has already elevated to the third-fastest all-dates collegiate competitor in history at 53.08 seconds, along with the No. 10 all-time American performer and equal to No. 24 globally. Wilson has benefited from training with fellow American Shamier Little, the No. 5 all-time competitor at 52.39, and is looking to benefit from the opportunity to race against world-record holder and Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin (51.41), reigning World champion Dalilah Muhammad (51.58) and Tokyo bronze medalist Femke Bol, No. 3 in history with the Dutch record 52.03. Wilson also ran the fastest all-time outdoor collegiate 4x400 relay split with a 48.60 anchor leg May 14 tp help the Razorbacks clock 3:22.55 at the Southeastern Conference Championships.

Tadese Worku, Ethiopia, 10,000 meters, 20

A young trio of Ethiopian athletes, all age 22 or younger, are expected to have a significant impact on the July 17 final, with the potential for the country to sweep the 10,000 medals for the first time since 2003 in Paris. Worku ranks No. 4 in the world this season at 26:45.91, with 22-year-old Selemon Barega third at 26:44.73 and 21-year-old Berihu Aregawi fifth globally at 26:46.13, all from their June 5 race in the Netherlands. Worku won the 3,000-meter title and placed second in the 5,000-meter final last year at the World Under-20 Championships in Kenya. He is attempting to become the first Ethiopian to capture 10,000 gold since Ibrahim Jeilan in 2011 in South Korea. Worku would also join fellow Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie as only the second 20-year-old to triumph at the World final. Gebrselassie won the first of four consecutive titles at 20 years, 126 days in Stuttgart in 2003, with Worku competing in this year’s final at 20 years, 197 days.

Sasha Zhoya, France, 110-meter hurdles, 20

Representing France, but with a background also connected to both Australia and Zimbabwe, Zhoya is ready to take aim at becoming the youngest World medalist in event history. China’s Liu Xiang was 20 years, 48 days when he earned a bronze medal in 2003 in Paris, but if Zhoya can navigate his path to the podium in the July 17 final, he would achieve the feat at 20 years, 23 days. Already the World Under-18 record holder at 12.87 seconds and the all-time World Under-20 competitor at 12.72, Zhoya is equal to the No. 9 senior-level competitor in the world this year with a wind-legal 13.17 performance June 25 at the French Championships. France’s Pascal Martinot-Lagarde captured bronze at 28 in 2019 in Doha, but the future of French hurdling is Zhoya, who also has the potential to become the youngest World gold medalist in the event, a record currently held by Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados and his victory at age 21 in 2009 in Berlin.