Top five best emerging USA athletes in track and field events in 2024 ft. Erriyon Knighton, Molly Haywood & more

Four U20 World Championships medallists feature on the list.

The USA are, perhaps, the most dominant nation in track and field events. The fact that they won 27% (34 out of 126) of their total medals in athletics at the Paris Olympics 2024 is a testament to the same. What’s even more interesting is the fact that 35% of the 40 gold medals they won (14) came from athletics, 10 more than any other nation. 

However, the Summer Games of 2024 was not the only mega event where American athletes made a name for themselves, the Diamond League tour and the U20 World Athletics Championships 2024 also had reassuring performances from USA athletes.

While names like Noah Lyles, Ryan Crouser, Rai Benjamin, Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas were among those who returned with laurels from the quadrennial events, these are faces that have been around for some time now.

The likes of Noah Lyles, Rai Benjamin and Gabby Thomas will be in their 30s and will have most probably seen their best years go by when the USA hosts the Summer Games in 2028 in Los Angeles. So, it is important for them and for the fans to identify the next flag-bearers in athletics.

As mentioned, since the year also saw the U20 World Athletics Championships take place in Lima, Peru, there were many upcoming stars who came out on top in their events. These athletes, not restricted to just the ones who participated in the championships in Peru, helped the USA top the medal tally at the U20 Worlds and the Summer Games in Paris. Let’s take a look at the five most promising youngsters.

The list strictly looks at names who are yet to turn 23-years-old. Hence, athletes like Melissa Jefferson, Masai Russell and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone haven’t been considered.

Five best emerging USA athletes in track and field events in 2024

5. Bryce Ruland – Men’s Discuss Throw

The 18-year-old discuss throw athlete won gold at the U20 World Championships. His best attempt in the finals was a 62.59m effort, his personal best. Interestingly, his second-best effort on the day, 62.44m, would also have been enough to help him win the gold

While this throw is yet far from what helps you get on the podium on the world stage, the fact that his best throw as an 18-year-old was enough to help him be the U20 world champion shows how much he is ahead of the rest of the athletes in the world in that age category.

Also Read: Indian Open U23 Athletics Championships 2024: Animesh Kujur completes sprint double, named best male athlete

He is a two-time WIAA Division 1 state champion and a one-time Nike outdoor champion in discuss throw. He finished second in 2024 at the Nike national championships. Apart from the discuss throw event, Bryce also actively participates in the shot put (5kg). 

4. Scottie Vines – Men’s High Jump

Scottie Vines is the reigning U20 world champion in high jump. The Colorado athlete, son of a former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, finished the high jump event at the U20 Worlds with a best effort of 2.25m, which was 0.02m better than Italy’s Matteo Sioli, who settled for silver. Scottie is on the list because of his almost flawless performance in the finals, where he had a failed attempt only four times until 2.23m and his winning jump of 2.25m, his personal best, was completed in the first attempt. 

Scottie Vines is a three-time state champion, the reigning Nike outdoor champion and the USATF U20 national champion.

3. Molly Haywood – Women’s Pole Vault

Molly Haywood is so high up on the list because of her dominant performance at the U20 Worlds in Lima, Peru. She entered the final, which she eventually won with a start at 4.15m. Haywood dominated the event, as she maintained a huge lead over her rivals. Magdalena Rauter of Austria started at 3.80m and could only manage 4.15m as her best effort on the night. Molly, on the other hand, went on to successfully clear 4.25m, 4.35m and 4.47m attempts.

Interestingly, she finished second at the USA U20 Championships behind Hannah Grace, who cleared 4.10m to finish fourth at the U20 Worlds. Haywood will look to break more records as in a few years time she will be competing in the senior category.

2. Akaoma Odeluga – Women’s Shot put

Akaoma Odeluga won the gold at the U20 Worlds in the women’s shot put. Her best throw at the Worlds was 17.34m long. However, that is not even near the best throw by the Indiana athlete. She had an 18.13m long throw, 0.04m shorter than the U20 World leading throw by South Africa’s Ashley Erasmus. Since the South African wasn’t competing at the Worlds, it felt like Odeluga had no competition.

Akaoma Odeluga qualified for the U20 Words through the USATF U20 Championships, where she finished second behind Gracelyn Leiseth, who could not qualify for the finals at the U20 Worlds.

1. Erriyon Knighton – Men’s 200m

The only athlete not from the U20 World Championships on the list is 20-year-old Erriyon Knighton. Although Knighton competes in both 100m and 200m sprints, like his peers, he is on the list, particularly for his performances in the 200m event. He is the youngest winner of a Diamond League race. Also, as a 20-year-old, he is already a two-time World Championships medalist at the seniors. 

He finished third in the 200m at the 2022 Eugene World Championships and bettered it at the 2023 Budapest edition, when he came second. He finished a devastating fourth in the 200m final at the Paris Olympics 2024. 

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