Gators show convincing performance, Leiseth finishes fifth on the second day of the Athletics U20 World Championships

LIMA, Peru – Two Gators advanced on the second day of the World Athletics U20 Championships, one setting multiple season bests and finishing in the top five in the discus final.

US U20 Discus Champion Gracelyn Leiseth finished fifth in the women's discus final. Her throw of 52.87m was the best of the U.S. and North American competitors. She will be looking to finish in the top five again at these Games, as she will compete in the shot put starting August 30.

The men's 400mH race featured a dominant performance by Gator freshman Vance Nilsson, who was the best in his heat, 11th, with a time of 51.98 seconds.^th best in the field and landed in the semifinals. Less than two months after the US Olympic Qualifiers, the 18-year-old phenom is ready to make a splash on the world stage.

Asia Phillips, competing for Canada, made the most of her jumps in the qualifying rounds, reaching a distance of 13.20m. She moved into the final with the fourth-best distance of the field. The triple jump final is scheduled for Saturday, August 31.

Abigail Elmore rounded out her heptathlon performance with two season bests in the final two events, achieving her best results of the year with a 5.46m leap in the long jump and a 35.19m javelin throw. Her time of 2:29.72 in the 800m was enough for fourth place in her heat and rounded out her final heptathlon score to 5052 points. Her total score was good for 13^th in the final ranking.

Athletics U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
RESULTS OF DAY 2

Heptathlon: Abigail Elmore – USA
10:35 am – Long jump – 5.46 m, 688 points, season best
13:04 – Javelin throw – 35.19 m, 575 points, season best
19:10 – 800 m – 2:29.72, 696 points

400 mH Men – Heats
11:05 am – Vance Nilsson – USA – 51.98, qualified for the semi-finals


Triple Jump Women – Qualification
12:50 pm – Asia Phillips – Canada – 13:20, 4^th in the field, qualified for final

Discus Throw, Women – Final
17:28 – Gracelyn Leiseth – USA – 52.87m, 5^th



DAY 3 SCHEDULE
Women 100 mH
11:03 am – Heats – Habiba Harris, Jamaica
16:05 – Semi-final – Habiba Harris, Jamaica*


200 m, men
13:29 – Heats – Jaden Wiley, USA
18:10 – Semifinal – Jaden Wiley, USA*


3000 m women
14:16 – Heats – Gabrielle Schmidt – Australia