Recent Eastern graduate Natalie Dumas advanced to the semifinals in the 400-meter hurdles Thursday at the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Dumas placed 2nd in the 6th and final qualifying race with a time of 58.86 at Hayward Field. The top four in each race and the next three-fastest times advanced to Saturday’s semifinals.
Dumas was 2nd in her heat to Rebekka Feirle of Germany, who ran 57.89.
Dumas is the No. 5 seed with her season-best 56.13 on the same track in June to win the U.S. Under-20 championship, although her PR of 55.99 from 2025 West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field is 2nd-fastest in the field. That 55.99 is 12th-fastest in U.S. Under-20 history.
The semifinals are scheduled for 9:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, with the final following at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Dumas won a gold medal on the U.S. mixed 1,600-meter relay team after splitting 52.35 on the second leg in the semifinals on Wednesday. The U.S. set a world Under-20 record of 3:15.31 to win the final later Wednesday.
Pennsauken rising junior Hope Edwards, the fastest sophomore in the country this past spring, ran 1:00.42 but did not advance to the semifinals. Edwards was competing for Haiti.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 