Pair of Baylor TF Athletes Medal at U20 World Championships

[Hutton, Josie]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Aug. 30, 2024

Pair of Baylor TF Athletes Medal at U20 World Championships
Both athletes record PRs to collect medals
For more information contact: Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720, josie_hutton at baylor.edu<mailto:josie_hutton at baylor.edu>



LIMA, Peru – Two Bears will return to Waco after competing in the 2024 U20 World Championships with medals around their necks, with sophomore Molly Haywood winning gold in women’s pole vault and freshman Jacobus (JL) Van Rensburg winning silver in men’s shot put.



Haywood became the first under-20 athlete for Team USA to win gold on Thursday night, scoring the top mark in the women’s pole vault with a mark of 14’-8”. That performance marked a new personal best for Haywood.



The Tomball, Texas, native had a successful outdoor season with the Bears in preparation for Worlds, where she finished fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June. Haywood’s previous PR came at home in Waco at the Michael Johnson Invitational at 14’-7 ½” meters.



Van Rensburg, a freshman for the 2024-25 roster, secured a silver medal for Team South Africa after a triumphant display of setting two new personal best throws. In the qualifying round, Van Rensburg achieved a personal best throw of 20.01 meters on his first throw of the day. Carrying his momentum into the finals, Van Rensburg broke his PR again, throwing 20.74 meters, narrowly missing gold by just two centimeters.



“JL arrived on campus at the beginning of June,” said Baylor throwing coach Jeff Chakouian. “I actually moved him into the dorms and left the next day for NCAA Championships. I put together a 12-week program for him and he executed it perfectly.”



“We both knew he was in great shape and ready to throw far in Lima. It was just a matter of finding a competition rhythm and then competing.  Once he found his rhythm he competed extremely well. He earned that medal through hard work and discipline in training and executing in the meet. The next four years are going to be a lot of fun as this is just the beginning.”


To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor cross country, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorTrack.



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