Springer, Austin among World’s fastest U20 400m athletes

Mar 25, 2026 Sports

Tianna Springer has one of top 400m indoor times for the University of Georgia.

By Rawle Toney

Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s rising track and field stars continue to stamp their authority on the international stage, with Tianna Springer and Malachi Austin emerging among the world’s elite U20 400m athletes, according to the latest World Athletics rankings.

Springer, an 18-year-old standout competing for the University of Georgia, currently holds the second-fastest time in the world in the U20 women’s 400m this season.

Her impressive run of 52.31 seconds in February places her just behind Nigeria’s Chioma Nwachukwu, who leads the global list with 51.67 seconds.

Known for her dominance at the CARIFTA Games, Springer is now translating that regional success onto the NCAA Division One circuit.

As she prepares to defend her unbeaten 400m streak at next month’s CARIFTA Games in Grenada, expectations are high that she will once again lead Guyana’s charge.

Meanwhile, Austin has firmly established himself among the top U20 male 400m athletes, globally.

The freshman at Louisiana State University clocked a blistering 45.37 seconds to win the LSU Opener, a performance that not only marked a personal best but also set a South American U20 record.

Austin’s time places him among the top five U20 athletes in the world, in elite company alongside Quincy Wilson (45.37s), Jayden Horton-Mims (45.36s), Sidi Njie (45.36s), Jonathan Ofori (45.33s), and Johnathan Simms, who leads the global list with 44.62 seconds.

Malachi Austin has been making an impact at LSU.

Significantly, Austin’s 45.37 seconds also ranks him 25th in the world among all senior 400m athletes, underlining the magnitude of his achievement at such a young age.

His outstanding performance earned him the SEC Runner of the Week accolade from the Southeastern Conference.

A proven performer on the regional stage, Austin is a CARIFTA Games U20 gold and silver medallist and also captured silver at the Youth Commonwealth Games, solidifying his status as one of Guyana’s brightest sprint prospects.

Adding to Guyana’s growing reputation in sprinting is Athaleyha Hinckson, who is also making waves while competing for LSU.

Hinckson’s 7.16s in the 60m ranks as the third-fastest time globally among U20 athletes this season and stands as the fastest ever recorded by a South American U20 athlete.

She has also shown her versatility in the half-lap event, with a 23.46s run in the 200m, placing her 13th in the world in the U20 category.

The trio of Springer, Austin, and Hinckson are all set to spearhead Guyana’s campaign at the upcoming CARIFTA Games, after being named among a 24-member squad by the Athletics Association of Guyana.

With their current form and rising global rankings, the three athletes are expected to play pivotal roles as Guyana aims for a strong showing at the Easter weekend championships in Grenada.

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athletes, Malachi Austin, Tianna Springer, World’s fastest

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