Oceania athletes deliver record breaking performances at the World Athletics U20 Championships

Image: Ben Levy / Australian Athletics

10 August 2026 The magic of Hayward Field came to life with more than 100 athletes from nine Oceania member federations competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships from 5 to 9 August 2026 in Oregon, USA.

Australia lead the Oceania contingent with 73 athletes, followed by New Zealand with 18 and Papua New Guinea with six. Northern Mariana Islands, French Polynesia, Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji and Guam are each represented, by a single athlete on the world stage.

The championships concluded on Sunday local time, with Oceania athletes coming home with a World U20 record, three Oceania U20 records, seven national records and six medals.

1 World U20 Record

  • Isaac Beacroft (AUS), Men’s 5000m Race Walk

3 Oceania U20 Records

  • Isaac Beacroft (AUS), Men’s 5000m Race Walk
  • Team Australia, Women’s 4x100m Relay (Philp, Hagan, Crowe, Reed)
  • Team Australia, Mixed 4x400m Relay (Ruming, Watts, Hamblin, McAuliffe)

6 National U20 Records

  • Isaac Beacroft (AUS), Men’s 5000m Race Walk
  • Team Australia, Women’s 4x100m Relay (Philp, Hagan, Crowe, Reed)
  • Team Australia, Mixed 4x400m Relay (Ruming, Watts, Hamblin, McAuliffe)
  • Hunter Jahnke (TGA), Men’s 100m
  • MaryAnn Macedru (FIJ), Women’s Shot Put
  • Hazel Wilson (GUM), Women’s 100m Hurdles

1 Open National Record

  • Hazel Wilson (GUM), Women’s 100m Hurdles

6 Medals

  • GOLD, Izobelle Louison-Roe (AUS), High Jump
  • GOLD, Isaac Beacroft (AUS), 5000m Race Walk
  • SILVER, Daniel Williams (AUS), 800m
  • SILVER, Mason McGroder (AUS), Long Jump
  • SILVER, Team Australia, Women’s 4x400m Relay (Hurdman, Watts, McAuliffe, Hill)
  • BRONZE, Team Australia, Mixed 4x400m Relay (Ruming, Watts, Hamblin, McAuliffe)

Team Australia, Mixed 4x100m Relay (Lubenda, Taber, Ekwomadu, Philp) Set the inaugural World U20 Record in Round 1 but was broken later in Heat 2 by GBR. Oceania U20 Mixed 4x100m Record will require a ratification process.

Behind the medals and the records sat a series of finals performances across the track and field events from athletes across all federations.

Speaking on her gold medal performance, Louison-Roe said she would carry the week with her.

“I will remember this competition forever, it is so special to me. When I won I burst into tears and I am so happy. I want to bring home the memories of these friendships I made, so many that I will cherish for life.”

Beacroft reflected on breaking the World U20 5000m record.

“This year has been pretty amazing for me. Back in December last year I walked our open 10,000 metre record and the world under 20 record in the 10k, and to come here and knock off the 5k as well, it is a pretty good feeling to have two world records in one season. This is just the beginning so I’m excited to hit some more seasons like this.”

For many of the junior athletes this was their international debut in their country’s singlet. Personal bests, season’s bests and plenty of learning opportunities were had out on Hayward Field, An experience of a lifetime to feel the magic of the Historic Hayward field. The future looks bright for Oceania Athletics after an action packed World Athletics U20 Championships.

Full results are available at worldathletics.org.

–ENDS–