USATF U20 Outdoor Championships explained

Sport:Track and field
Country:United States
Founded:1972
Website:USATF Official website
Current Season:2024 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships

The USATF U20 Outdoor Championships, formerly known as the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships, is an annual outdoor track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field (USATF) which serves as the national championship for American athletes aged under 20. The competition is also used for American national team selection for the IAAF World U20 Championships in even-numbered years and the Pan American U20 Athletics Championships in odd-numbered years.[1] [2]

The event was established in 1972 and were originally organized by the Amateur Athletic Union. The Athletics Congress of the USA took over organizational duties in 1980 and the competition was held under the USATF name for the first time in 1993. The men's and women's competitions were held separately from 1972 to 1982, with combined sex championships being held in 1974, and 1978–1980 within that period.[3]

It is held separately from the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, which hosts various age category competitions for athletes aged between 8 and 18.[4]

Events

On the current programme a total of 38 individual United States U20 Championship athletics events are contested, divided evenly between men and women. For each of the sexes, there are six track running events, three obstacle events, four jumps, four throws, a racewalk and a combined track and field event.

Track running
Obstacle events
Jumping events
Throwing events
Walking events
Combined events

For the years 1972 and 1973, track races were held over imperial distances before metrication of the sport in 1974. The results of field events were measured in metric units from 2001 onwards. The distance events were mile run, 3 miles and 6 miles. The women's pentathlon was replaced by the heptathlon in 1981. The decathlon was not held at the first edition and the pentathlon not held at the second edition. The women's 400 m hurdles was not contested in 1972 or 1974. The steeplechase was held over 2000 m for men in 1986 and for women in 2002.[5]

The women's distance programme varied in early years, with no distance race over one mile in 1972, a two-mile race in 1973, no race again in 1974, then the introduction of a 3000 m in 1975. A women's 10,000 m was held from 1988 to 1998, but the women's 5000 m in (introduced in 1996) became the women's longest distance thereafter. A women's steeplechase was first held in 2002. Women's racewalking event has varied in distance over the years, starting over one mile in 1972, skipping the 1973 and 1974 editions, being held over 1500 m in 1975, over 3000 m from 1976 to 1985, 5000 m from 1986 to 1999, before finally matching the men's 10,000 m distance in from 2000 onwards. The women's field programme gradually expanded to match the men's, with triple jump being introduced in 1985 and pole vault and hammer throw in 1995.[5]

Editions

EditionVenueStadiumDateNotes
2024Eugene, OregonHayward FieldJune 12-13
July 7–9
June 23–25
2021Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2019Miramar, FloridaAnsin Sports ComplexJune 21–23[6]
2018 Bloomington, IndianaBilly Hayes TrackJune 15–17[7]
2017 Sacramento, CaliforniaHornet StadiumJune 22–25[8]
2016 Clovis, CaliforniaVeteran's Memorial Stadium at Buchanan High SchoolJune 24–26[9]
2015 Eugene, OregonHayward FieldJune 25–28[10]
2014 Eugene, OregonHayward Field(multis - Sacramento, California 6/25-26)
2013 Des Moines, IowaDrake StadiumJune 19-23
2012 Bloomington, IndianaBilly Hayes TrackJune 15- 17
2011 Eugene, OregonHayward FieldJune 23- 26
2010 Des Moines, IowaDrake StadiumJune 23- 27
2009 Eugene, OregonHayward FieldJune 25- 28
2008 Columbus, OhioJesse Owens Memorial StadiumJune 20- 22
2007 Indianapolis, IndianaIU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer StadiumJune 21- 24
2006 Indianapolis, IndianaIU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer StadiumJune 21- 24
2005 Carson, CaliforniaHome Depot CenterJune 23- 26
2004 College Station, TexasAnderson Track & Field ComplexJune 25- 27
2003 Stanford, CaliforniaCobb Track at Angell FieldJune 19- 23
2002 Stanford, CaliforniaCobb Track at Angell FieldJune 21- 22
2001 Richmond, VirginiaSports Backers StadiumJune 16- 17
2000 Denton, TexasMean Green StadiumJune 23- 24
1999 Denton, TexasMean Green StadiumJune 19- 20
1998 Edwardsville, IllinoisRalph Korte StadiumJune 19- 20
1997 Edwardsville, IllinoisRalph Korte StadiumJune 21- 22
1996 Delaware, OhioSelby StadiumJune 28-29
1995 Walnut, CaliforniaHilmer Lodge StadiumJune 23- 24
1994 Tallahassee, FloridaMike Long TrackJune 24- 25
1993 Spokane, WashingtonSpokane Falls Community CollegeJune 26- 27
1992 Columbus, OhioJesse Owens Track @ Ohio StadiumJuly 5- 6
1991 Blaine, MinnesotaNational Sports CenterJune 21- 23
1990 Fresno, CaliforniaRatcliffe StadiumJune 29- July 1
1989 Columbus, OhioJesse Owens Track @ Ohio StadiumJune 9- 11
1988 Tallahassee, FloridaMike Long TrackJune 23- 25
1987 Tucson, ArizonaRincon Vista ComplexHep/ Dec: June 16- 17
June 19- 21
1986 Towson, MarylandMinnegan StadiumJune 26- 29
1985 Elmhurst, IllinoisYork High SchoolJune 21-22
1984 Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumHep: June 16- 17, Dec: June 18- 19
June 22-24
1983 University Park, PennsylvaniaNittany Lion TrackJune 25- 26
1982 Bloomington, Indiana (men)
Los Angeles, California (women)
Billy Hayes Track (men)
Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake Stadium (women)
June 14- 15 (men)
June 30- July 1 (women)
1981 Knoxville, Tennessee (men)
Los Angeles, California (women)
Tom Black Track (men)
Elvin C. Ducky Drake Stadium (women)
June 12- 13 (men)
June 30- July 1 (women)
1980 Knoxville, TennesseeTom Black TrackJune 16- 17
1979 Bloomington, IndianaBilly Hayes TrackJune 23- 24
1978 Bloomington, IndianaBilly Hayes TrackJune 24- 25
1977 Knoxville, Tennessee (men)
Los Angeles, California (women)
Tom Black Track (men)
Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake Stadium (women)
June 17- 18 (men)
June 13- 14 (women)
1976 Knoxville, Tennessee (men)
Los Angeles, California (women)
Tom Black Track (men)
Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake Stadium (women)
June 8-9 (men)
June 15- 16 (women)
1975 Knoxville, Tennessee (men)
White Plains, New York (women)
Tom Black Track (men)
Glen D. Loucks Field (women)
June 13- 14 (men)
June 27- 28 (women)
1974 Gainesville, FloridaPearcy Beard TrackJune 14- 15
1973 Gainesville, Florida (men)
Irvine, California (women)
Pearcy Beard Track (men)
UC- Irvine (women)
June 22- 23 (men)
June 19- 20 (women)
1972 Lakewood, Colorado (men)
Poplar Bluff, Missouri (women)
Jefferson County Stadium (men)
Poplar Bluff Stadium
June 23- 24 (men/ women)

Records

Men

Championships records[11]
EventRecordAthleteSchool or ClubLocationDateRef
10.00 July 5, 2014
20.15 June 26, 2016
400 m44.93Steven McElroyUniversity of CincinnatiEugeneJune 25, 2022[12]
1:46.97 June 25, 2016
3:42.8h June 15, 1974
13:55.65 June 17, 1980
29:11.2h June 13, 1975
110 m hurdles (99 cm)13.12 (+1.6 m/s)Ja'Kobe TharpAuburnEugeneJune 13, 2024[13]
49.45 June 24, 1984
5:50.66 June 29, 1986
3000 steeplechase8:48.17Wyatt HaughtonBYUEugeneJune 12, 2024[14]
42:50.20 June 21, 2002
June 11, 1989
June 15, 2018
June 30, 1990
June 28, 2009
June 22, 1979
June 25, 2015
June 28, 1996
June 17, 2012
June 20, 1999
June 25, 2010
June 25, 2010
Decathlon7599 June 26, 2009
Decathlon
Junior implements
8016 June 24, 2011

Women

Championships records
EventRecordAthleteSchool or ClubDateLocationRef
11.09 June 24, 2016 Clovis
200 m22.48 (0.0 m/s)Shawnti JacksonRun U XpressJuly 9, 2023Eugene[15]
50.69 June 22, 2002 Stanford
1:59.04 Maryland High School June 25, 2022 Eugene
4:14.74 June 17,2012 Bloomington
9:10.51 June 25, 2016 Clovis
15:56.84 June 24, 2016 Clovis
34:22.32 June 23, 1991 Blaine
12.84 June 25, 2016 Clovis
54.54 June 25, 2016 Clovis
10:14.67 June 24, 2017 Sacramento
June 28, 1996 Delaware
June 17, 2018 Bloomington
Long jump (+0.7 m/s)Alyssa JonesStanfordJuly 8, 2023Eugene[16]
June 27, 2004 College Station
June 22, 2002 Stanford
June 15, 2012 Bloomington
June 16, 2012 Bloomington
June 15, 2018 Bloomington
5660 pts June 15–16, 2018 Bloomington
10000 m walk48:24.61Taylor EwertBeavercreek High School23 June 2019Miramar[17]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2019/USATF-U20-Outdoor-Track---Field-Championships/Athlete-Info.aspx#Processing USATF U20 Outdoor Championships Team Processing
  2. http://www.usatf.org/News/Florida-s-Ansin-Sports-Complex-selected-for-2019-2.aspx Florida’s Ansin Sports Complex selected for 2019-20 USATF U20 Championships
  3. http://www.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAJuniorOutdoorTF/sites.aspx USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships
  4. http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2014/USATF-National-Junior-Olympic-Track---Field-Champi/Athlete-Info.aspx 2014 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships Athlete Info
  5. http://www.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAJuniorOutdoorTF.aspx USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Champions
  6. http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2019/USATF-U20-Outdoor-Track---Field-Championships.aspx 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships
  7. http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2018/USATF-Junior-Outdoor-Track---Field-Championships.aspx 2018 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships
  8. http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2017/USATF-Junior-Outdoor-Track---Field-Championships.aspx 2017 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships
  9. http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2016/USATF-Junior-Outdoor-Track---Field-Championships.aspx 2016 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships
  10. http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2015/USATF-Junior-Outdoor-Track---Field-Championships.aspx 2015 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships
  11. Web site: USA Track & Field - Statistics - Event/Meet Records - USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships . www.usatf.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111020202642/http://usatf.org/statistics/Event-Records/USAJuniorOutdoorTF.aspx . 2011-10-20.
  12. News: Bearcats' star will compete at World Championships in August. gobearcats.com. Zach Stipe. 25 June 2022. 31 July 2022.
  13. Web site: HAUGHTON RECORD, LEISETH THROWS DOUBLE TOP PERFORMANCES AT USATF U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS. USATF. 14 June 2024. 2 July 2024.
  14. Web site: HAUGHTON RECORD, LEISETH THROWS DOUBLE TOP PERFORMANCES AT USATF U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS. USATF. 14 June 2024. 2 July 2024.
  15. Web site: JACKSON, SHEA SHINE ON FINAL DAY OF USATF U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS. USATF. 10 July 2023. 24 September 2023.
  16. Web site: ALYSSA JONES CHAMPION WOMEN'S LONG JUMP - MEET RECORD 22-0.75 (6.72M) - USATF U20 OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023. runnerspace.com. 8 July 2023. 14 July 2023.
  17. Web site: Taylor Ewert Sets 10K Race Walk Meet Record At USATF U20. milesplit.com. Mark Dwyer. 24 June 2019. 14 July 2023.