Josh Harel in the High Jump Final at the U20 World Championships
The first attempt was enough for the Israeli-American athlete to clear 2.14 m. On the disappointing side: Yarden Mantel failed to qualify due to equipment issues, and Gal Nathaniel finished the 400 m hurdles in 1:00.80 min.
A mix of achievement and disappointment for the Israeli delegation at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon. Josh Harel, born to an Israeli family and raised in the USA, qualified for the high jump final after clearing 2.14 m on his first attempt. At the recent Israeli Championships, he finished as the runner-up to Yonatan Kapitolnik.
On the other hand, a bizarre logistical failure prevented Yarden Mantel from reaching the pole vault final. The Israeli champion cleared 4.16 m last week, a result that would have easily secured her a spot in the final, but her poles did not arrive on time—a recurring issue for the athlete. Forced to use alternative equipment, she struggled to adapt and failed to clear the starting height of 3.80 m. Gal Nathaniel was also far from her usual form in the 400 m hurdles and did not advance past the qualifiers, clocking in at 1:00.80 minutes.
