){kind=small}
LaLiga){kind=logo}
LEV
){kind=logo}
VIL
){kind=small}
Serie A){kind=small}
MIL
){kind=small}
COMO
){kind=small}
Premier){kind=logo}
WOL
){kind=small}
ARS
){kind=small}
Premier){kind=small}
BMT
){kind=small}
KAS
){kind=small}
KCB
){kind=small}
AFC
){kind=small}
KAK
){kind=small}
SOF
){kind=small}
Bundesl){kind=logo}
M05
){kind=logo}
HSV
){kind=logo}
SAS
){kind=small}
VER
){kind=small}
Ligue 1){kind=small}
B29
){kind=small}
OM
){kind=small}
ATH
){kind=logo}
ELC
){kind=small}
MAU
){kind=small}
SHA
){kind=small}
TUF
){kind=small}
MUR
){kind=small}
BAN
){kind=small}
BID
){kind=small}
RSO
){kind=logo}
OVI
){kind=small}
POR
){kind=logo}
JUV
){kind=logo}
KOE
){kind=logo}
TSG
){kind=small}
FCB
){kind=logo}
SGE
){kind=logo}
FCU
){kind=logo}
B04
)
In this article, Pulse Sports Kenya highlights seven young athletes from around the world who are poised to make a major impact on the track and field scene in 2026.
The 2026 track and field season is shaping up to be a historic bridge between generations, with youngsters and senior athletes looking to make their mark in their signature events.
With the World Athletics U20 Championships returning to the hallowed grounds of Hayward Field in Oregon and the debut of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, the spotlight is firmly on the youth.
In this article, Pulse Sports Kenya analyses the youngsters to watch in 2026, from the South African relay heroes to Italian middle-school phenoms.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News
1) Bayanda Walaza
)
Bayanda Walaza's story is already one of legendary highs and frustrating lows. In 2024, he became a national hero, securing an Olympic silver in the 4x100m relay while still a high schooler. He followed that with a dominant sprint double (100m/200m) at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
However, his 2025 season was a rollercoaster. After clocking a staggering 9.94s in the 100m and winning double gold at the World University Games, Bayanda Walaza suffered a heartbreaking hamstring injury at the Diamond League final in Zurich.
This forced him to withdraw from the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. 2026 is his year of redemption; expect a fully healthy Bayanda Walaza to target the 200m world junior record and a spot on the senior podium in Budapest.
2) Gout Gout
)
If there is one person who can challenge Bayanda Walaza’s sprint dominance, it’s Australia’s 18-year-old sensation, Gout Gout.
His 20.04s in the 200m is the fastest time ever recorded by someone his age, surpassing the marks set by Usain Bolt at the same stage.
With a stride pattern that mimics the Jamaican legend and a calm, competitive temperament, Gout Gout is the heavy favourite to turn his 2024 silver into 2026 gold.
3) Quincy Wilson
)
At 17, Quincy Wilson has already transitioned from a high school star to a global fixture. After becoming the youngest American male track athlete to win Olympic gold (via the 4x400m relay pool), Quincy Wilson has his sights set on the individual sub-44-second barrier.
His 44.20s U18 world record stands as a testament to his talent. In 2026, he will be the face of the US team in Oregon, likely leading both the individual 400m and the inaugural mixed 4x100m relay.
4) Kelly Doualla
)
Perhaps the most intriguing talent in Europe, Kelly Doualla has been beating grown women since she was 14. Now 16, the Italian sprinter and long jumper is a multi-talented threat.
She dominated the 2025 European Under-20 Championships and is currently shattering age-group records in the 60m and 100m. Her raw explosive power makes her the most dangerous wildcard of the 2026 season.
5) Jackson Cantwell
)
The throwing circles in 2026 will belong to Jackson Cantwell. The 5-star recruit and son of Olympian Christian Cantwell is already launching the shot put to distances that rival senior professionals.
He is widely expected to secure the first gold medal of the Oregon 26 championships. His technical precision and massive frame make him a rare ‘can't-miss’ prospect in the field events.
6) Natalie Dumas
)
Natalie Dumas is the athlete coaches' dream of. She possesses the flat speed of a 100m specialist but the endurance of a middle-distance runner.
Primarily a 400m hurdles and sprints specialist, her ability to switch between events makes her a threat for multiple medals in 2026. She currently sits atop the 2026 recruiting rankings for a reason: she simply doesn't have a weakness.
7) Edmund Serem
)
Kenya has long looked for a successor to the steeplechase throne, and they have found him in Edmund Serem.
The 2025 World Athletics Rising Star has already proven he can handle the pressure of senior-level racing following his impressive performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Edmund Serem secured a bronze medal in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. At 19, his goal for 2026 is to break the 8-minute barrier in the 3000m steeplechase, a feat that would move him from a young star to a global icon.