2015 World Youth Champs: Deep Boys Preview

by Steve Underwood

Overview:  There are no slam dunks for Team USA for gold medals, but there are plenty of serious contenders to make the stand, including Josephus Lyles and Keshun Reed in the 400, Isaiah Lucas and Norman Grimes in the hurdles, Jaron Brooks in the high jump, Adrian Piperi in the shot, Robert Colantonio Jr in the hammer, George Patrick in the decathlon and more!


Boys Sprints:  Lyles, Reed to challenge Taylor in the 400

100m Dash
Team USA Meet History:  While Team USA has had 5 medalists here, there has not been the level of success one would expect (and not up to the girls’ level).  With Kenzo Cotton getting injured and Jaalen Jones missing the final, the U.S. came home empty in 2013.  Prezel Hardy captured the lone American gold, back in 2009.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, JPN, 10.30
4. (2) Derick Silva, BRA, 10.34
5 (tie). (3-tie) Javan Martin, BAH, 10.41
5 (tie). (3-tie) Tlotliso Gift Leotlela, RSA, 10.41
7. (5) Oliver Bromby, GBR, 10.42

(22) Daniel Estrada, USA, 10.64 (10.46w)
(24) Micaiah Harris, USA, 10.68

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  If Californian Tarrick Block had come to the Trials, Team USA would have had a bona-fide medal contender.  As it is, the soph Harris and the junior Estrada will need to try and get their marks in the 10.5 range (legal) to advance and maybe have a shot at the final.

200m Dash
Team USA Meet History:  Team USA fortunes have not been any better here than in the 100.  The lone gold was won by Jonathan Wade back in 2001, followed by two silvers by Michael Grant and a trio of bronze-medal finishes.  Two years ago, the Cotton injury (see above) and Ryan Clark focusing on the 400 left a very young Noah Lyles – now the World’s top junior – to try (unsuccessfully) to make the final.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, JPN, 20.56
2. Tlotliso Gift Leotlela, RSA, 20.63
3. Kyle Appel, RSA, 20.73 (20.64w)
7. (4) Akanni Hislop, TTO, 20.91
8. Derick Silva, BRA, 20.92

12. (9) Josephus Lyles, USA, 21.02
(18) Maxwell Willis, USA, 21.21 (20.55w)

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  U.S hopes are stronger here than in the 200, though what will unfold is hard to envision.  Willis ran his wind-legal PR in the Trials, but that 20.55w he clocked for 2nd at Great Southwest – at altitude, to be sure – is the type of performance that could make the final and maybe a lot more.  Lyles is best over 400 and what he’ll have left for the half-lap remains to be seen.  He has a sub-21 in him, but just how fast and whether he can do it here is the question.  Meanwhile, Japan’s Sani Brown and South Africa’s Leotlela are hoping for 100/200 doubles.

400m Dash
Team USA Meet History:  Five medals here for Team USA, with Arman Hall’s 46.01 triumph in 2011 the only gold to date.  Four others have medaled – big names like Cedric Goodman, Bryshon Nellum and Josh Mance – and most recently Ryan Clark with silver in 2013.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Christopher Taylor, JAM, 45.55
2. Keshun Reed, USA, 45.75
3. Josephus Lyles, USA, 45.77
4 (tie). Karabo Sibanda, BOT, 46.22
4 (tie) Jamal Walton, CAY, 46.22

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Leave no doubt, this is Team USA’s best chance for medals in the sprints (and one of the best in any event).  Lyles and Reed had a great battle at the Trials, with Lyles winning, 45.77 to 46.06 – but Reed had previously run 45.75, too.  Only thing is, they face another superstar in Jamaica’s Taylor – who is even better and the gold favorite.  Also look for Walton from the Cayman Islands, who races in the U.S.


Boys’ Hurdles:  Grimes, Lucas firmly in the mix

110m Hurdles
Team USA Meet History:  One of the best events for the Team USA boys, the 110H produced four gold medal winners between 2003-2009: Jason Richardson, Cordera Jenkins, Wayne Davis II and Dale Morgan.  Medals of other colors have been claimed, as well, including Marlon Humphrey’s silver in 2013.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
2. (1) Mpho Tladi, RSA, 13.44 (13.38w)
3. (2) Sales Junior Inglin, SUI, 13.56
4. (3) Heitor Coelho, BRA, 13.58
5. (4) Isaiah Lucas, USA, 13.59
6. (5) Tavonte Mott, BAH, 13.61 (13.1h)

8 (tie). (6-tie) Norman Grimes, USA, 13.64

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  The prospects of two Americans in the final looks good and getting at least one medal could be in the cards, as well.  Lucas and Grimes, a pair of Texas rivals, looked good at the Trials.  Maybe they can help each other out here now that they’re on the same team.  This field is good, but they need to fear no one.  Grimes is more consistent in the longer race, but he’s very good here when he’s on his game, too.

400m Hurdles
Team USA Meet History:  The U.S. has been a little up and down here, but at its best has been very, very good – as in a WY record by William Wynne in 2007 (with Reggie Wyatt getting silver) and Jason Richardson’s 2003 win that completed an epic double.  Then the U.S. was shut out in 2009 and 2011 (no finalists).  2013 was mixed, with favorite Marlon Humphrey bowing out to injury (after a 110H silver), but Kenny Selmon winning silver.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Rivaldo Leacock, BAR, 51.34
2. Morne Van As, RSA, 51.49
3. Norman Grimes, USA, 51.67
4. Aleix Porras, ESP, 51.75
5. Gianni Lombard, RSA, 51.76

14. (9) Cory Poole, USA, 52.42

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  The competition may have noticed an American, Norman Grimes, seeded #3 at 51.67.  But do they know he’s gone 50.59 at the 36” hurdles?  Grimes was running on fumes a bit when he ran that 51.67 to finish off his double effort at the Trials.  There’s no question that if he gets his rhythm over the 33s that he can get in the 49s.  Either way, he’s got a great chance to win, place or show.  Poole has a good shot to make the final and perhaps do some damage.


Boys’ Distances:  Contending for medals will be tough here

800m Run
Team USA Meet History:  Making the final is a tall order here for Americans, even while running very strong 1:50-type performances for this age.  In 2011, Cameron Thornton didn’t make the final even with a great 1:49.64 semi and all three medalists ran 1:44s.  So 8th-place finishes by Michael Hadden (’03) and Dylan Ferris (’07) are the best the U.S. has done.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Willy Kiplimo Tarbei, KEN, 1:44.51
2. Kipyegon Bett, KEN, 1:44.55
4. (3) Temam Tura, ETH, 1:47.93
5. (4) Omer Amano, ETH, 1:48.44
7. (5) Aemero Yele, ETH, 1:48.67

(19) Connor Dunne, USA, 1:51.71
(24) Cameron Cooper, USA, 1:52.22

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Dunne and Cooper will probably need to get down to at least the 1:50.5-range to make the final.  The Kenyans and Ethiopians will dominate – and no, although Ethiopia has three listed, they can only run two!

1500m Run
Team USA Meet History:  The past two WYCs have been pretty special for U.S. distance runners, relatively speaking.  No medals, but Jacob Burcham ran a then-soph class nat’l record 3:46.55 for 7th in 2011, then Blake Haney upped the ante with his 5th (3:44.69) in 2013 – with a young Grant Fisher making his first big impression by winning his heat and then taking 9th in the final.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Kumari Taki, KEN, 3:37.54
2. Lawi Koskei, KEN, 3:41.10
3. Mulugeta Assefa, ETH, 3:41.15
5. (4) Welde Tufa, ETH, 3:42.54
6. (5) Demoz Bekele, ETH, 3:42.76

(21) Phillip Rocha, USA, 3:52.57

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Rocha will likely need to hit a new level to have a chance to add to the list of Americans recently making the 1,500 final – either kicking hard to take a 3:50-type semi like Fisher did, or improving dramatically to get in the 3:40s to make it on time.  Still, who thought Fisher could do it two years ago?  Rocha’s been injured off and on this year; hopefully, with recent healthy training he can really show what he can do.  Otherwise, like the 800, it’s an all-East African showcase, with Belgium’s Jochem Vermeulen (3:44.27) the closest to breaking it up.

3000m Run
Team USA Meet History:  There hasn’t been a lot to cheer for since Galen Rupp impressed in 7th back in 2003 with his 8:10.42.  In 2009, there was a very solid 9-10 finish by Zach Wills and Eric Olson (with Wills getting soph class nat’l record), but nothing since.  In 2013, the above-mentioned Haney and Fisher both qualified in the 3k and 1,500, but went for the 1,500 only.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
2. (1) Richard Yator Kimunyan, KEN, 7:53.3h
3. (2) Davis Kiplangat, KEN, 7:53.6h
13. (3) Alexander Yee, GBR, 8:14.8h
15. (4) Tefera Mosisa, ETH, 8:15.00
16. (5) Abayneh Degu, ETH, 8:15.43

(29) Mason Coppi, USA, 8:41.32

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Coppi’s seed time is one of the slowest in the field, but his 9:01.96 3,200 from his prep season converts to about 8:24 – which would put him solidly in the middle of the pack and a decent chance to make the final.  Apparently the Ethiopians haven’t been in a fast race yet this year, but you can expect them in sub-8:00 territory like their East African neighbors.

2,000m Steeplechase
Team USA Meet History:  Bailey Roth gave Team USA its best-ever finish in 2013 with his 7th in 5:45.87.  The best before that was Ben Delay’s 9th in 2003.  No steeplers were picked for Team USA this year.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Vincent Kipyegon Ruto, KEN, 5:27.17
3. (2) Geoffrey Rotich, KEN, 5:30.59
6. (3) Wogene Sebisibe, ETH, 5:37.72
9. (4) Tilahun Mulatu, ETH, 5:39.39
14. (5) Tegenu Mengistu, ETH, 5:43.84

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  No Team USA entrants.  In 2013, Meresa Kahsay of Ethiopia upset the Kenyans with a World Youth best 5:19.99, then his countryman Wogene Sidamo won the Youth Olympics.  Think the Kenyans will be wanting redemption?

10k Race Walk
Team USA Meet History:  Team USA had a bit of a golden age of race-walking in 2009-11 as Trevor Barron and Tyler Sorensen took turns breaking national records; Barron was 4th in ’09 and Sorensen 5th in ’11.  But no one has risen again to that level and Team USA did not pick anyone in 2013 or this year.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Zakhar Sliva, RUS, 41:52.62
2. Sergey Shirobokov, RUS, 41:52.69
3. Sergey Rakov, RUS, 41:56.40
6. (4) Federico Gonzalez, MEX, 42:52.26
7. (5) Tyler Jones, AUS, 43:24.55

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  No Americans competing.  Russian walkers won 7 of 8 WYCs before Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi prevailed in 2013.  Look for a return to form this time.


Boys Jumps:  Brooks has the best shot at a medal

High Jump
Team USA Meet History:  Success here has been infrequent for Team USA, with Justin Fondren’s bronze in 2011 being the top performance, followed by David Smith in 7th in ’09 and Donte Nall’s 9th in ’05.  Mike Monroe was Team USA’s entrant in 2013 and he did not make the final.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Stefano Sottile, ITA, 7-2.5
2 (tie). (2) Dmytro Nikitin, UKR, 7-1.75
4. (3) Jaron Brooks, USA, 7-1.5
5. (tie). (4-tie) Shuo Ding, CHN, 7-0.5
5. (tie). (4-tie) Lusahane Wilson, JAM, 7-0.5
5. (tie). (4-tie) Jermaine Francis, SKN, 7-0.5
5. (tie). (4-tie) Roman Kuzinov, RUS, 7-0.5

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  In this amazing breakout year – which has included NBN indoor and outdoor titles, a CSI victory, and making Team USA here even on not the best of days for him – Brooks has thrilled fans in Kentucky and beyond.  There’s a tight mix of contenders which means as long as he can get 7 feet or better, he’ll be right in the mix.  It will probably take matching his PR to medal.

Pole Vault
Team USA Meet History:  A solid history of performances here by Team USA is topped by silver from Scott Roth in 2005 and Jacob Blankenship’s bronze in 2011.  A young Paulo Benavides impressed with his 4th here in 2013, with Devin King getting 6th before barely missing a medal at World Juniors in ’14.
IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Masaki Ejima, JPN, 17-5.5
2. Armand Duplantis, SWE, 17-4
3. Emmanouil Karalis, GRE, 17-2.75
4. Denis Akinshin, RUS, 17-0.75
5. Takaaki Yoshida, JPN, 16-9.25

13. (12) Zachary Shugart, USA, 16-5

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  If you want to cheer for Louisiana’s record-setting freshman sensation Armand Duplantis at the WYC, look for him in a Sweden uniform, not Team USA.  He has dual citizenship and when he didn’t show up in Lisle, Sweden was apparently his choice for national representation.  He’ll have worthy foes in – among others – Japan’s Ejima and possibly Saudi Arabia’s Hussain Asim Al-Hizam, who was 4th at Youth Olympics and went 17-5.5 last year.  Team USA’s Zachary Shugart is a solid bet to make the final (it took 15-9 in ’13), but will have to raise his game further to contend for a medal.

Long Jump
Team USA Meet History:  The U.S. history here hasn’t been quite as impressive as you’d think, with bronze medals by Christian Taylor in ’07 and Isaiah Moore in ’13 (barely missing silver) being the only ones claimed.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Maykel Demetrio Masso, CUB, 26-7.75
2. Juan Miguel Echevarria, CUB, 26-5
3. Darcy Roper, AUS, 25-11.5
6. (4) Miltiadis Tentoglou, GRE, 25-2.75
7. (5) Mouhcine Khoua, MAR, 25-2

17. (14) Justes Nance, USA, 24-5.75

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  We saw the best in the world back at CSI as Cubans Maykel Demetrio Masso and Juan Miguel Echevarria went 1-2 on Team NSAF’s and Project Triple Jump’s Ja’Mari Ward – in an epic matchup back in June.  Unfortunately, injury has sidelined Ward and the Cubans are heavy favorites to go 1-2 again.  Roper looks like a great bet for bronze.  Justes Nance could make the final if he shows his low-mid 24s form, but will need more to have a medal shot.

Triple Jump
Team USA Meet History:  Christian Taylor is literally the gold standard in this event for Team USA, with his WY victory in 2007 prefacing a career that has included Olympic and World Championship gold in 2012-13.  No one else has placed higher than 6th, though, with Project Triple Jump’s KeAndre Bates taking 9th in 2013 after a big PR in the prelim.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Cristian Atanay Nápoles, CUB, 53-11.75
2. Julio César Carbonell, CUB, 52-6.75
3. Martin Lamou, FRA, 52-0.5 (52-8.25i)
5. (4) Mingze Du, CHN, 51-7.75
6. (5) Melvin Raffin, FRA, 51-3 (51-11.25w/51-10.5i)

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  No US athletes met the standard.  Again, Ward is sorely  missed here; he was ranked #4 in the World Youth list for this year.  And again, the Cubans – who we saw at CSI – have a powerful 1-2 punch, with Napoles becoming an all-time great.  The French duo will hope to break that up.


Boys Throws:  Strong medal hopes for Piperi, Colantonio

Shot Put
Team USA Meet History:  No U.S. putter had ever finished higher than 10th until 2009, when Ryan Crouser provided a breakthrough with his gold-medal victory.  2011 was nearly as great, as Tyler Schultz and Braheme Days, Jr. went silver-bronze behind record-setting Jacko Gill of New Zealand.  Amir Ali Patterson took 8th in 2013.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Wictor Petersson, SWE, 69-9
2. Szymon Mazur, POL, 69-5.5
3. Adrian Piperi, USA, 69-1.25
4. Burger Lambrechts, RSA, 68-6.5
5. Shebab Mohamed Abdalaziz, EGY, 68-2.25

9. Isaiah Rogers, USA, 66-4.5

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  With his monster final round effort at the Trials, Piperi put himself in prime medal contention with a solid chance at gold.  He really found the way to propel the smaller shot and a few weeks of practice since can only improve his chances.  Rogers should make the final and certainly has the potential to join Piperi in the hunt to get on the podium.

Discus
Team USA Meet History:  Team USA has captured two medals in this event: Ryan Crouser’s silver in 2009 – part of his great double – and Ethan Cochran’s silver two years later.  On three more occasions, Americans have finished 5th or better.  Reno Tuufuli led the efforts in 2013 in 7th place.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Werner Visser, RSA, 214-3
2. Wictor Petersson, SWE, 210-10
3. Felix Roybel Valle, CUB, 209-6
5. (4) Patrick Duvenhage, RSA, 207-9
6. (5) Shebab Mohamed Abdalaziz, EGY, 206-4

16. (14) Adrian Piperi, USA, 192-11
19. (16) Gabriel Oladipo, USA, 190-7

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Piperi isn’t quite as strong here as he is in the shot, with he and Oladipo having a shot at making the final – but needing significant improvement to contend in the final.  Cuba’s Valle didn’t throw well at CSI, but is a definite medal contender.  Sweden’s Petersson is in a position to double if he can overcome the likes of Visser here.

Javelin
Team USA Meet History:  Devin Bogert TX (7th in 2009) and Chad Brown (7th in 2003) are the top American finishers in event history.  No one was picked for the event in 2013.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Niklas Kaul, GER, 275-4
3. (2) Vladislav Palyunin, UZB, 259-6
4. (3) Conor Warren, AUS, 253-2
5. (4) Patriks Gailums, LAT, 253-1
6. (5) Mohd Hadeesh, IND, 247-9

(23) Liam Christensen, USA, 224-4

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Kaul is a 7,783-point decathlete whose best event could be the javelin, where his PR leads the world by nearly 16 feet.  Christensen had a big PR to win the Trials and make the standard, but now he’ll likely need several more feet to make the final.

Hammer
Team USA Meet History:  Team USA has had finalists each of the past 5 championships, with Conor McCullough’s 4th in 2007 being the best, followed by Alec Faldermeyer’s 6th in 2009.  In 2013, Colin Minor placed 12th.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Hlib Piskunov, UKR, 277-5
2. Mykhailo Havryliuk, UKR, 257-9
3. Ned Weatherly, AUS, 256-9
4. Robert Colantonio, Jr, USA, 256-6
5. Peter Szentivanszky, HUN, 255-11

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Colantonio, Jr., the USA Junior and Youth Trials champ, has a great chance to surpass McCullough and become the first American to medal – having obviously made the adjustment to the smaller hammer.  Piskunov is on another level, but the other medals are up for grabs.


Decathlon:  Patrick looking solid in new 10-eventer

Team USA Meet History:  In the previous multi-event contested for boys at World Youth Champs, the Octathlon, Team USA never won an medal – but had strong finishes of 4th by Curtis Beach in 2007, 6th by Gabe Moore in 2013 and 7th by Michael Morrison in 2005.

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. Niklas Kaul, GER, 7,783
2. Hans-Christian Hausenberg, EST, 7,713
3. Toralv Opsal, NOR, 7,444
4. Martin Moldau, EST, 7,427
5. Maximilian Vollmer, GER, 7,407
6. George Patrick, USA, 7,282

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Kaul – also the javelin favorite – and Hausenberg have 250-300 points on the pack, so it will probably take a major failure by either to open up one of the top two spots on the medal stand.  Patrick looked great at the Trials, but can score higher and has a good chance to be in the bronze hunt, at least.

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