Nine Gators, including returning talent and top newcomers, are among the competitors in Lima, Peru.
LIMA, Peru – Nine Gators will compete in the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru over five days of action from August 27-31. Among the top young athletes in the world are some of the Gators key returners from last season, as well as a few high-profile newcomers set to don the Orange and Blue this season.
The Competitors
Gracelyn Leiseth – Soph. – USA – Shot Put and Discus
One of the premier freshman throwers in the Nation in 2024, Leiseth competed at the NCAA Outdoor Championship during her debut outdoor season, eventually being named a Second-team All-American by USTFCCCA. She scored points in both the Discus and Shot put at the SEC Outdoor Cahmpionships. She already holds a No. 5 spot on UF’s all-time top-10 list, with a 17.70m mark in the outdoor shot put, which she obtained at the NCAA East Preliminaries. In June, Leiseth was crowned the U20 champion in both the Shot put and Discus, punching her ticket to this event with team USA.
Miguel Pantojas – Soph. – Puerto Rico – 800m
In his debut campaign with the Gators, the Oviedo, Fla. native finished 11th in the 800m at SEC outdoor championship meet and competed in the NCAA East Preliminaries. During the Indoor season, He finished sixth at the SEC Championship with a 1:49.97, and cracked the Program’s all-time top-10 list with his 1:48.08 spot at the Tyson Invitational. Pantojas will run for Puerto Rico in Lima.
Layla Haynes – Soph. – Barbados – 800m
Another Mid-distance star set to play a bigger role for the Orange and Blue in her second season, Haynes competed during the 2024 indoor season for Florida, setting a new personal best in the 800m with a 2:06.66 mark at the Tyson Invitational.
Asia Phillips – Canada – Triple Jump
With a season best of 13.48m in the triple jump, Phillips is the next great member of the horizontal jump lineage under Associate Head Coach Nic Peterson. Phillips was the Canadian U20 Champion in the Triple Jump, securing a 12.21m mark at the Bell Trials in Montreal
Jaden Wiley – USA – 100m, 200m and 4x100m
One of the top sprints recruits in the nation, Wiley Joins Florida for the 2024-25 campaign as the U20 U.S. Champion in the 100m. A major win for Florida’s recruiting efforts, the incoming Freshman is the fastest man in the country for his age group, and is looking to take home gold on the world stage. He’ll have three chances for the coveted hardware, competing in th 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.
Abigail Elmore – USA – Heptathlon
Another key incoming freshman, Elmore’s signing was another win for Associate Head Coach Mellanee Welty, the Gators’ recruiting coordinator and Elmore’s future multi’s coach. The Texas native placed second at the U.S. U20 Trials, with a 5363 score, and is primed for a strong performance in Lima.
Gabrielle Schmidt – Australia – 3000m and 5000m
A top Australian recruit, Schmidt will race for Australia in the major distance events before Joining Florida for the remainder of the upcoming cross-country season. Her season bests are a 9:23.94 mark in the 3000m, and a 16:23.46 time in the 5000m.
Vance Nilsson – USA – 400mH
Nilsson, a prodigy out of Arizona, became the only American high schooler to run a sub-35 second 300mH at his AIA Division I state meet. Following his High School season success, He became the U.S. U20 Champion in the 400m, and eventually competed at the U.S. Olympic trials where he finished 11th in his heat with a 49.77 time. He is expected to become a major contributer in his first season under Head Coach Mike Holloway’s watch.
Habiba Harris – Jamaica – 100mH
Harris, who will arrive to campus in January, claimed the U20 Jamaican 100mH championship, punching her ticket to Lima. The Star hurdler has broken the 13-second barrier in the 100mH on multiple occasions, a feat that would net her a No. 6 spot on UF’s all-time Top-10 if she can repeat her accomplishments upon her arrival to campus.
More information regarding the U20 Championships in Lima can be found here<https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-u20-championships/lima24>.
Day 1 Schedule: August 27, 2024 (all times ET)
Heptathlon: Elmore
10:17 a.m. – 100mH Heat 3
11:07 a.m. – High Jump group A
5:05 p.m. – Shot Put
7:25 p.m. – 200m
M 100m
12:18 p.m. – Wiley, Heat 4
7:00p.m. – Wiley, Semifinals*
W Discus Throw – Qualification
12:45 p.m. – Leiseth, Group A
M 800m – Heats
1:40 p.m. – Pantojas, Heat 6
W 800m – Heats
2:03 p.m. – Haynes, Heat 2
W 5000m – Final
7:25 p.m. – Schmidt
