MEDOWIE’S record-breaking sprinter Jack Deguara has become a newly-minted world champion.

Quicksilver Jack struck gold on the opening day of the World Junior Under 20 Athletics Championships in Peru last week when he helped Australia win the 4 x 400m Mixed Relay title in record fashion.

The reigning NSW 400m junior champion combined with rising Victorian sprint stars Jordan Gilbert, 2023 women’s Stawell Gift winner Bella Pasquali and Sophia Gregorevic to secure the nation’s first relay gold medal in 26 years – smashing the Australian and Oceania Under 20 record twice in the one day.

In an incredible feat, the gifted quartet sent shockwaves through the Peruvian capital of Lima when they clocked the third fastest time in history in 3:19.27 seconds to be crowned world champions.

Gilbert won the opening leg by more than one second with Pasquali and Deguara keeping the Australians on record pace with powerful contributions.

Anchor runner Gregorevic showed her class with a cracking finish as the young Aussies claimed international glory – staving off challenges from silver medallists Poland and bronze recipients China.

Eighteen-year-old Jack’s jubilant parents Holly and Peter Deguara both witnessed the magic moment at the Estadio Atletico in Villa Deportiva Nacional.

“We are just so proud of Jack and what he has achieved with the relay team,” an elated Peter told News Of The Area.

“All the family are still in disbelief with the gold medal win at such a major international athletics event but are so in awe of him,” he exclaimed.

Jack added a bronze to his medal haul when he later teamed with Victorians Gilbert and Caleb Kilpatrick and Queenslander Jett Grundy to finish third in the 4 x 400m Men’s Relay final on the last day of competition.

The quartet clocked an impressive time of 3:05.53 to lock in a podium spot.

It raised Australia’s tally to four medals – their best ever haul at a World Junior Championship – and confirmed the squad’s status as the nation’s best crop of emerging young talent.

Jack, a product of Medowie Little Athletics, moved to the Maitland Senior Athletics Club at the age of seventeen.

His other major 2024 achievements include winning the NSW 400m junior sprint title and claiming a bronze medal in the Men’s 400m final at the Australian Athletics Under 20 Championships in Adelaide earlier this year.

Emerging seventeen-year-old Queenslander Terrell Thorne won the national title in a personal best time of 46.80 seconds from Gilbert (47.08 PB) and Deguara (47.69).

Jack also anchored the NSW 4 x 400m Relay team that collected silver in the final.

He prepared for the World Championships by participating in training camps on the Gold Coast and spent two weeks in Peru to acclimatise.

It all paid dividends with the Medowie teenager now perched on top of the athletics world.

By Chris KARAS