Teen Hurdler Le'Ezra Brown Ties World U20 Record in Oregon

A teenager from the United States just ran himself into the record books, and his performance has coaches already circling 2028 on their calendars.

Le'Ezra Brown tied the world under-20 record in the 110m hurdles at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon on Saturday, blazing through the finish line in 12.72 seconds. The time matched the record set by French athlete Sasha Zhoya in 2021, capping off a dominant day for Brown that included a North American under-20 record in the heats.

"It is crazy. I felt it in my warmup," Brown said after the race. "I did one acceleration and my coach told me I was ready."

His victory wasn't just about one athlete's triumph. The race inspired record-breaking performances across the field, with athletes from Norway, the Bahamas, Brazil, and Turkey all setting national under-20 records just trying to keep pace.

The championships also saw American sprinter Tate Taylor complete a rare sprint double, winning both the 100m and 200m events. Taylor clocked a championship record 19.83 seconds in the 200m, becoming only the fifth male athlete to achieve this double in the event's history.

In a thrilling debut event, Italy shattered the world under-20 record in the mixed 4x100m relay. Their team ran 41.21 seconds, beating a record that had been broken twice earlier in the same competition.

Morocco's Imad Bouchajda gave his country its first-ever world under-20 800m title, edging out Australia's Daniel Williams in a closely contested finish.

Why This Inspires

What makes these performances remarkable isn't just the speed or the records. It's watching young athletes push each other to heights they didn't know they could reach.

Brown's record-tying run created a ripple effect down the track, with competitors from six different countries running personal bests or national records. When one person reaches for greatness, everyone around them rises too.

These athletes are already looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. "I want to be a national champion and be running at LA 28," Brown said, his eyes already on the next starting line.

The future of track and field just got a whole lot faster.