World Athletics has finally posted a time schedule for the 2024 World Under-20 Championships in Peru, and we now know that Pennsauken’s Premier Wynn will race on Aug. 28, Day 2 of the five-day meet.
World Under 20 Championships are scheduled for Aug. 27-31 at Estadio Atlético de la Videna in Lima, located about four miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.
The 400-meter hurdles trials are scheduled for 11:05 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Aug. 28, with a semifinal round at 5:05 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 and then a final at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31.
This will be the 20th edition of World Under 20s. It’s been held every even-numbered year since 1986 other than the 2020 meet, which was pushed back to 2021.
Wynn, a 2022 graduate of Pennsauken High, qualified for World Under 20’s – formerly World Juniors – by placing 2nd at USATF Under 20s in Eugene on June 13. He ran a PR 50.58 out of Lane 9, placing 2nd to Vance Nilsoon, who ran 50.23.
The top two qualifiers in each race are invited to compete for the U.S. team at World Under 20s.
Wynn had an outstanding freshman year at Norfolk State, placing 2nd at the MEAC Championships on his home track in Norfolk with a 50.72 and making it to the second round at NCAAs.
Wynn was the 6th-fastest freshman in NCAA Division 1 this year. High school teammate Bryce Tucker, the Big Ten champion at 50.61,was 7th-fastest. Wynn and Tucker have been training together at Pennsauken High preparing Wynn for the unusually late race.
By the time Wynn runs his 1st-round race in Peru, he will have gone about 10 weeks since his last race.
On the World Athletics Under-20 performance list, Wynn is ranked 18th in the world in the intermediates and Tucker is 20th. No heat sheets or entry lists yet, so we don’t know how many of the hurdlers ahead of him on that list are headed to Peru.
Wynn is No. 67 on the all-time U.S. Under-20 list, and Tucker is No. 70. Other notable names on that list include Robert Griffin III [49.22 in 2008], Taylor McLaughlin (Sydney’s brother) [49.45 in 2016], East Orange’s Cory Poole [49.71 in 2018], Winslow’s Reuben McCoy [49.82 in 2005] and Camden’s Dwight Ruff [50.37 in 2001].
McCoy won the 400 intermediates at the 2005 Pan American Junior Championships in Windsor, Ontario.
For a history of World Under-20s, click here.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 