Hope Edwards, who was the fastest sophomore intermediate hurdler in the U.S. this past year while competing for Pennsauken, will race in the World Under-20 Championships this week in Eugene.
Edwards, who just turned 16 on July 2, will represent Haiti in the 400-meter hurdles. Her mom is from Haiti, giving her eligibility to compete for Haiti.
Edwards is the youngest of the 55 competitors in the 400-meter hurdles.
The World Under-20 Championships are open to athletes who haven’t turned 20 by the end of this year.
Edwards ran her PR of 58.72 when she placed 3rd at West Philly Nationals in June. That is 8th-fastest in state history and 3rd-fastest by a sophomore, behind Sydney McLaughlin and Natalie Dumas, who is also entered. It’s 8th-fastest in state history and 3rd-fastest in South Jersey history, behind Dumas at 55.99 and Winslow’s Krystal Cantey, who ran 56.83 in 2005.
Edwards ran 55.94 in the 400 indoors and then outdoors broke 60 in the 400IH for the first time with a 59.17 when she was 2nd to Dumas at the state Group 4 meet before her breakthrough 58.72 at Franklin Field.
Edwards is also ranked 18th in the world in the Under-18 division.
Edwards is scheduled to race in the trials at Heyward Field at 1:41 p.m. EST Thursday. The semis are at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, with the finals following at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 