World Youth Age Criteria

[pinoyathletics]

Just a question about the World Youth Championships which are next July in Ukraine.

According to this article which is from the 2011 WYC. Only athletes born in 1994 and 1995 can compete in the 2011 edition.

http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/standard ... 58557.html

However prior to this i have seen 14 and 15 year olds compete at this before. When did they change this rule???

The reason i ask is because the Philippines has got two athletes who have met the qualifying criteria but are born in 1998 so the two of them will be 15 when the next world youth comes along.

http://pinoyathletics.com/2012/07/30/tw ... t-program/

[pherekydes]

Yes, the rules only allow for athletes aged 16 or 17 in the year of competition to enter. Only athletes born in 1996 or 1997 may enter next year's youths championships.

Interestingly, athletes aged 16-19 in the year of competition may enter the world junior championships.

Amusingly, we had an athlete DQed after winning the national junior XC about 2 years' ago for being underage. I understand the concept of protecting young athletes from the stresses of "overage" competition, but this athlete was by far the most comfortable in the field, and won by nearly a minute.

[pherekydes]

As an addendum, youth athletes may also compete at the senior world championships in certain events.

[pinoyathletics]

As an addendum, youth athletes may also compete at the senior world championships in certain events.

Correct we are now having to send them to the Asian Youth Champs which is for athletes born in 97 and 98. They will be back with aggression in 2015 world youth champs after the IAAF has left them out,