Hey kids, you can forget about seeing the llamas on top of Machu Picchu, because USATF has canceled your field trip to Peru! And by that I mean an opportunity to compete on the world stage, likely for the first time, at the 2024 U20 World Championships this upcoming August 26th - 31st.

It is a rare occasion when Team USA does not field a full team of qualified athletes for an international championship, let alone not send a team at all. But when it does happen, it seems to disproportionately impact the kids, as was the case in 2021 to Nairobi. The reasons cited are safety, the event date, and the competitive readiness of the potential squad.

These… don’t seem like great reasons…? The state department designates Peru as a place American travelers should take level 2 travel precautions when visiting, which is the same as Sweden or the UK.

While the end of August is fairly deep into the season, especially for teenagers, that seems like a decision for the individual and their coaches to make. If qualified athletes weigh the pros and cons of extending training through the summer, then that should be their prerogative – not their federations.

If competitive readiness is a concern, then the solution is to not go down the descending order list when qualified athletes make the decision to defer their spots. Those who have this meet circled on their calendar will happily study abroad in Leuven this summer to stay sharp.

Boom, just like that I have successfully negotiated a peace-treaty and smoothed out USATF relationships with Peru. I’ll also accept plaudits from World Athletics, who you have to assume doesn’t love that the host of the 2026 event is not participating… again. Let the kids play!