U.S. Sweeps 100 Meters, Nigeria's Jessica Oji Wins Shot Put, China's Yixin Su Takes Discus; French Women Go 1-3 In Long Jump; Finland's Enni Virjonen Claims Heptathlon

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Keith Webber and Tim Healy Photos

INTERVIEWS 

EUGENE -- Mia Maxwell said she knew before the race ever started that Tate Taylor was going to follow her victory with another for Team USA in the men's 100 meters. 

"As soon as he took off them glasses, I said Oh, you already know what time it is," she said. 

She wasn't wrong and anyone who saw him run without his eyeglasses before the 200 meters at the Prefontaine Classic on July 4 knows as well. 

When Taylor sets the glasses aside, the world may get a little bit blurry but he's locked in and focused. 

Taylor got off to a strong start, separated from Jamaican star Gary Card and electrified the crowd when he crossed the finish line in 9.94 seconds to conclude Day 2 at the World Athletics U20 Championships. 

He shoulted "This is my stadium!" as he celebrated the first of what could be several gold moments this weekend at Hayward Field.

"Well let's see, I've won here one, two, three, probably four or five times," Taylor said playfully. "I think I have the right to say that."

Taylor's win, right after Maxwell won the women's 200 in 11.14, gave the United States in general, and Texas in particular, a sweep of the 100-meter gold medals. 

On a night with six gold medals awarded, China's Yixin Su withstood a challenge from California state champion Jaslene Massey to win the women's discus. 

Jessica Oji, a former high school standout from New Jersey who attends Penn and competes for Nigeria, won the women's shot put gold. 

And Djelika Diarra of France won the long jump with a world U20-leading 6.52m. 

Finland's Enni Virjonen won the long jump and javelin on the way to winning the heptathlon with 6,204 points, a World U20 leading total for 2026.

In qualifying rounds Thursday, all four U.S. 400-meter runners advanced to Friday night's finals. 

Quincy Wilson and Jayden DeLeon both won their semifinal heats of the men's 400 meters and South African Leendert Koekemoer, labeled the favorite by the British television commentator, won the other semifinal.

Ataja Stephane-Vazquez and Clara Adams of the U.S. also both advanced to the final of the women's 400. 

In the women's 1,500 meters, Claire Stegall and Ellery Lincoln both stayed out of trouble and safely advanced to the final on Sunday. 

Henry Dixon got through the first round of the men's 1,500 meters, while Nate Stadtlander finished .01 seconds out of a qualifying position. 

In the men's pole vault, Jaxon Jerabek and Isaiah Whitaker both hit the qualifying standard to advance to the final.