It has been a busy summer and athletes across the country have been competing well past the end of the 2026 outdoor track & field season.
Springfield welcomed athletes from 8 to 18 years of age during the final week of June to compete at the AAU Region 4 Qualifier in preparation for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa, beginning August 1st through the 8th.
Here are a few athletes you need to keep an eye on as the summer's biggest track & field extravaganza nears.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Deshawn Wise, Cleveland Mustangs - 15/16 Boys
Wise swept the throwing events at the Region 4 meet last month, winning both the shot put and discus while setting a new personal best of 52-5 in the shot put. The Cleveland Mustangs standout has been dominant throughout the summer, remaining undefeated with four wins across the two events.
After placing seventh in the shot put at the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic Games, Wise is set to make his second appearance on the national stage. With continued improvement and another year of experience, he'll be one of the top throwers to watch in Des Moines.
...
Kaniyah Taylor, Dayton Wolverines TC - 12 Girls
Taylor captured the 200m regional title and finished second in the 100m while setting personal bests in both sprint events at the AAU Region 4 Qualifier. She also improved her perfect record in the 200m this summer, remaining unbeaten through seven races.
The young Dayton Wolverines star returns for her fifth consecutive AAU Junior Olympic Games after finishing seventh in the 200m last year and eighth in 2024. With another season under her belt, Taylor will once again be a strong contender in the sprint events.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
to receive personalized notifications when tagged in results, photos, video & articles
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Brayden Furman, Jet9 Elite TC - 11 Boys
Furman won both the high jump and 80m hurdles in Springfield, which was highlighted by a personal-best jump of 4-7 in the high jump. The performance continues to be a breakout summer for the 11-year-old across multiple disciplines.
After placing 18th in the high jump at last year's AAU Junior Olympic Games, Furman returns jumping nearly six inches higher than he was entering nationals a year ago. That significant improvement should put him in a much stronger position to compete for an All-American finish this August.
...
Haylee Taylor, Columbus Panthers - 11 Girls
Taylor claimed regional titles in the 800m and in an incredibly competitive 1,500m, while adding a runner-up finish in the 3,000m to qualify in all three distance events. She also set personal bests across the board this summer, two happening on Wittenberg's track, lowering her marks to 2:32 in the 800m, 5:12 in the 1,500m, and 11:23 in the 3,000m.
The Columbus Panthers distance runner will be making her third consecutive appearance at the AAU Junior Olympic Games after recording top-10 finishes in the 1,500m each of the past two years. She will once again be among the top contenders to earn All-American honors in the three distance races.
...
Sam Mcafee, 513 Elite - 15-16 Boys
McAfee delivered one of the most dominant distance performances of the Region 4 Qualifier, winning the 1,500m by 34 seconds in 4:15. He also captured the 3,000m title and finished runner-up in the 800m, completing an outstanding weekend across the three distance events.
Representing 513 Elite, the rising freshman from Lakota West has consistently excelled on the national stage, placing fourth in the 1,500m at the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic Games and fifth in 2022. With another dominant qualifying performance and a strong championship resume, McAfee enters Des Moines as a legitimate All-American contender and could find himself in the mix for a podium finish.