Two local athletes travel to Eugene, Oregon in the USA to participate in the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships this weekend.
Galway clubs will be represented by race walker Matthew Newell from Castlegar AC and South Galway AC 100m hurdler Orlaith Mannion. The World Athletics U20 Championships take place at the famous Hayward Field from Wednesday, August 5 to Sunday, August 9.
Mannion's 100m hurdles heats get underway this Friday from 6.30pm. Newell kicks off his championships in the 5000m walk on Saturday at 6.10pm. In total more than 1,800 athletes from 147 teams are competing.
Medals and titles will be up for grabs in 46 events, split evenly at 22 between men and women, along with two mixed gender events at Hayward Field.
Often seen as the cradle of track and field in the United States of America, Eugene is expected to offer up ideal conditions for the world's top junior athletics competition.
Eyes will be peeled as fans and pundits hope to catch a glimpse of the next generation of athletics stars, who will hope to join the likes of Noah Lyles, Nina Kennedy, Joshua Cheptegei and Yulimar Rojas, and graduate from junior to senior success.
