Home Deportes Future Oregon Duck Simon Rosselli wins discus gold at World U20 meet

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Future Oregon Duck Simon Rosselli wins discus gold at World U20 meet

August 10, 2026

On his last throw of the day, Simon Rosselli struck gold.

Rosselli, a future University of Oregon discus star, uncorked a personal-best throw of 217 feet, 9 inches on his sixth and final attempt Aug. 9 to take home the men’s title at the World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field.

Prior to that moment of magic, Rosselli sat in fifth place. But he never even entertained the thought that his day would end with anything other than a gold medal hanging from his neck.

In the process, he took down the national U20 record, surpassing Mason Finley (214-4, 2009).

“I started smiling. I looked up at the board and saw the only way I could win was to break the American record,” Rosselli said. “I said, ‘Hey, pressure’s on. I have to go do something special.'”

Indeed, he did.

Not a bad way for the Spokane, Washington, standout to reintroduce himself to the Hayward Field faithful.

USA's Simon Rosselli celebrates a throw on his way to winning the men's discus on the final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships on August 9, 2026 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. — USA’s Simon Rosselli celebrates a throw on his way to winning the men’s discus on the final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships on August 9, 2026 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

“I had to walk out there and protect my home. I know no one can beat me in Hayward, and that’s nothing but confirmed now,” Rosselli said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first throw or the sixth throw; all it takes is one. I’m here to throw that one throw and I’m here to take home that gold every time I’m inside Hayward.”

Estonia’s Sten-Erik Iir was second (214-8) and Joseph Richard Salmon took third (214-6).

Rosselli’s dramatic victory kicked off an eventful fifth and final day at Hayward.

One of his future UO teammates, Ellery Lincoln, closed out her historic campaign with a strong finish in the women’s 1,500 meters.

Lincoln, a record-setting distance superstar entering her senior year at Lincoln High School in Portland, navigated a slow, tactical race and took fifth place in 4 minutes, 22.60 seconds.

“We were going slow enough that I was OK with being a little bit on the outside when I needed to be. … I made a pretty wide swing to get toward the front of the pack when they started going,” Lincoln said of trying to keep pace with the lead pack for the final lap. “I hung for a little bit. But that’s really the pinnacle of U20 world talent right now. So, I don’t feel too ashamed getting a little bit dropped by them. They definitely hit some really high gears.”

USA's Ellery Lincoln, right, and Claire Stegall take off from the start of the women's 1,500 meters on the final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships on August 9, 2026 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. — USA’s Ellery Lincoln, right, and Claire Stegall take off from the start of the women’s 1,500 meters on the final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships on August 9, 2026 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

After a non-stop summer circuit of premiere races that included an appearance at the Prefontaine Classic, Lincoln will now take a well-earned break before diving into her senior cross-country season. She said she intends to compete for her high school but will get a late start to the fall as she takes time to rest and recover.

Kenya’s Josephine Sembeyo Mancha won in 4:16.73.

American Claire Stegall, who competes for the University of Florida, unleashed a spectacular kick over the final 200 meters and pushed her all the way to the finish line, taking second in 4:16.77.

American sprint superstar Tate Taylor, fresh off a sweep of the men’s 100 and 200 world titles, capped off his incredible week by anchoring the U.S. to gold in a U20 world record time of 38.16. Taylor slammed the door on runner-up Great Britain (38.90) with a blistering final split of 8.75.

“All glory to God. He gave me the vision earlier this week. I was able to achieve it; I just had to trust in Him and His plan,” Taylor said.

Blake Hamilton (10.54), Dillon Mitchell (9.17) and Kyler Brown (9.70) also ran fast legs.

USA's men's 4x100-meter relay team celebrates after its win in a U20 world record on the final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships on August 9, 2026 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. — USA’s men’s 4×100-meter relay team celebrates after its win in a U20 world record on the final day of the World Athletics U20 Championships on August 9, 2026 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

By the time the day came to a close, the U.S. added two more relay titles to its gold medal count.

The American men’s crew of Quincy Wilson, Cameron Tucker, Alexander Osayemi and Jayden Deleon won in 3:01.39.

On the women’s side, the U.S. quartet of Ashtyn Lewis, Olivia Harris, Clara Adams and Taylor-Nicole Overton cruised to victory in 3:29.15.

Those two relay wins added the finishing touch to a week of dominance for the host nation.

The U.S. ended the five-day meet with 24 total medals — 13 more than runner-up Kenya. The American hardware count was comprised of 12 gold, seven silver and five bronze.

Other trascendental results Sunday

Jamaica won the women’s 4×100 relay with a time of 42.89. That’s the fastest in the world this year by a U20 relay crew. Switzerland placed second (43.36) and Belgium was third (43.91).
France’s Zackaria Dia won the men’s pole vault with a height of 19-1/4. Estonia’s Henri Apri took silver (18-10 1/4) and USA’s Isaiah Whitaker won bronze (17-10 1/2). Fellow American Jaxon Jerabek originally placed third but was disqualified.
Germany’s Clara Hegemann took gold in the women’s hammer throw, delivering a winning mark of 226-4. Finland’s Pinja Karha (224-9) was second and Germany’s Nova Kienast (222-9) was third.
Kenya’s Wilson Chepkwech won a blistering men’s 1,500 in which the top three finishers produced personal-best times. Chepkwech won in 3:37.46. Compatriot David Kapaiko Sekento took second in 3:38.32. Morocco’s Osama Er Redouani was third in 3:39.68.
Spain’s Bakr El Asri won the men’s 3,000 steeplechase in a European U20 record 8:28.35. A pair of Kenyan’s tool silver and bronze; Emmanuel Lemiso Someki was second in a personal-best 8:32.81 and Nicholas Kitum Losiwareng placed third in 8:38.05.