The World Athletics U20 Championships are slated to begin today in Eugene, Oregon - marking the first time the US has hosted the event since 2014.

Naturally, that has beckoned the nation’s top young talent to the stage, and we have our eyes on 2028, already.

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How many of these rising stars could represent Team USA in 2028? Don’t worry, I won’t leave you guessing, I’ve already crunched the numbers.

First 2014, which holds the closest parallel to this year’s World U20 Championships. Five athletes competed on both the 2014 World U20 Team and the 2016 US Olympic Team:

• Trayvon Bromell - 8th 100m in Rio
• Raven Saunders - 5th Shot Put in Rio
• Kendell Williams - 17th Heptathlon in Rio
• Keturah Orji - 4th Triple Jump in Rio
• Ariana Washington - 4x100m Relay Pool

Four years later, in Tampere, Finland eight U20 athletes built momentum towards the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Eight athletes overlapped at those two championships, here are their respective finishes in Tokyo:

• Yared Nuguse - 1500m DNS
• Elija Godwin - Bronze Mixed 4x400m
• JuVaughn Harrison - 5th Long Jump, 7th high Jump
• Taylor Manson - Bronze Mixed 4x400m
• Shae Anderson - 4x400m Mixed Relay Pool
• Tara Davis-Woodhall - 6th Long Jump
• Micah Williams - 4x100m Relay Pool
• Jasmine Moore - 12th Triple Jump

And of course, the 2022 World U20 Championships in Colombia ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024, only one athlete competed at both. Juliette Whittaker. She would go on to earn seventh in Paris over 800m.

SO, on average we’ve had approximately five athletes from a preceding World U20 Championships make an Olympic team in the same cycle. Here are the six athletes that I think could make the 2028 Olympic Team from this year’s World U20 Roster:

1. Tate Taylor

Taylor has already proved that he can compete on an international level. At this year’s Prefontaine Classic, Taylor won the men’s 200m in unbelievable fashion. He ran 19.75 into a -0.9 headwind, to beat the Olympic 200m Champion in Letsile Tebogo. At just 18 years-old, Taylor earned his first Diamond League win.

He’ll attempt the 100m and 200m double this week.

2 & 3 Mia and Mariah Maxwell

These two have also proven their stature against the pros. At the US Indoor Championships in 2026, Mia and Mariah finished second and third respectively over 60m. They ran 7.13 and 7.14.

They’ll also attempt the 100m and 200m doubles. Mia has personal bests of 11.04 (+1.2) and 22.49, while Mariah has run 11.11 (+1.5) and 22.44 (-2.0). 

While US sprinting depth is brutal, both have already displayed an aptitude to run at a World Class level.

4. Quincy Wilson

Speaking of World Class level, how do we not mention Quincy Wilson. The teenage hero of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Quincy Wilson is already an Olympic Gold Medalist. His 44.10 last year was a World U18 Record. 

He ran 44.84 at this year’s US U20 Championships to finish second to Jayden Deleon, but we’re expecting him to make some noise this year in Eugene.

5. Parker Coes

I have to mention Parker Coes. I saw her compete at New Balance Nationals last year, and she blew me away as she jumped 21-0 (6.40m) for the High School National Title. She has since improved to 21-3 (6.48m). 

Parker Coes is just 16, a sophomore in high school with her career ahead of her. She is going to be a monster in two years and you have to put her on your radar, if she isn’t already.

6. Jayden Deleon

Jayden Deleon jumps out to me as well. Quincy and Jayden have seen each other on a number of occasions and who can forget the battle at this year’s New Balance Indoor Nationals. The two battled to the line, with Wilson narrowly nipping Deleon 45.37 to 45.38.

Rising tides lift all boats and Quincy has helped foster incredible competition in the 400m ranks. Either boy could win the World U20 Title this week.

We’ll find out, with the full World U20 Championships slated to begin on Wednesday, August 5th and continue through Sunday, August 9th.

2026 World Athletics U20 Championships, Team USA Roster

Team USA U20 Women’s Team 2026

Track Events

• 100m: Mia Maxwell, Mariah Maxwell
• 200m: Mia Maxwell, Mariah Maxwell
• 400m: Ataja Stephane-Vazquez, Clara Adams
• 800m: Paige Sheppard, Elisabeth Barada
• 1500m: Claire Stegall, Ellery Lincoln
• 3000m: Chiara Dailey
• 5000m: Emily Wisniewski
• 3000m SC: Sierra Wall, Arabella Nelson
• 100m Hurdles: Madeline Cooper, Tori Goodson
• 400m Hurdles: Natalie Dumas, Tatum Lynn
• 5000m Race Walk: Grace Wagener

Field & Combined Events

• High Jump: Bailey Hensgens, Brianna Rivers
• Pole Vault: Kylie Neira, Katherine Blue
• Long Jump: Abigail Mecklenberg, Parker Coes
• Triple Jump: D'Anna Cotton, Shi'eana Hall
• Shot Put: Jaslene Massey, Addy MacArthur
• Discus: Jaslene Massey, Jillian Scully
• Hammer: Burklie Burton, Meagan Ewers
• Javelin: Emily Harbach, Sophia Mazzoni
• Heptathlon: Chiora Enyinna-Okeig, Destiny Look

Relay Pools

• 100m Relay Pool: Mia Maxwell, Mariah Maxwell, Ava Kitchings, Ahalyna Taylor, Sanyah Keeton, Aster Jones, Naiaja Sizemore, Madeline Cooper
• 400m Relay Pool: Ataja Stephane-Vazquez, Clara Adams, Taylor-Nicole Overton, Ashtyn Lewis, Olivia Harris, Natalie Dumas

Team USA U20 Men’s Team 2026

Track Events

• 100m: Tate Taylor, Kyler Brown

• 200m: Tate Taylor, Blake Hamilton
• 400m: Jayden Deleon, Quincy Wilson
• 800m: Stefon Dodoo, Kaleb Burroughs
• 1500m: Henry Dixon, Nate Stadtlander
• 3000m: Noah Bontrager, Owen Powell
• 5000m: Juan Gonzalez, Jack Bidwell
• 3000m SC: Austin Carrera
• 110m Hurdles: Zacchaeus Brocks, Le'Ezra Brown
• 400m Hurdles: Keenen Davis, Miller Warme
• 5000m Race Walk: Gael Plasencia

Field & Combined Events

• High Jump: Gage Voyles, Maddox Krotzer
• Pole Vault: Jaxon Jerabek, Isaiah Whitaker
• Long Jump: Quincy Isaac, Carter Reckelberg
• Triple Jump: Miles Nesmith, Justin Arogundade
• Shot Put: Omar Hussein, Michael Kpomassy
• Discus: Simon Rosselli, Chris Marcell
• Hammer: Kayden Hulet
• Javelin: Nolan Carey
• Decathlon: Brody Foster, Darius Jones Jr.

Relay Pools

• 100m Relay Pool: Tate Taylor, Kyler Brown, Dillon Mitchell, Nicholas Altheimer, Auralleus Hicks, Cy Lugo, Jayson Smith, Blake Hamilton
• 400m Relay Pool: Jayden Deleon, Quincy Wilson, Cameron Tucker, Alexander Osayemi, Jaelen Hunter, Joshua Shelton, Ade Lloyd, Carlo Johnson

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