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.
Newport News welcomed athletes from 8 to 18 years of age during the final week of June to compete at the AAU Region 5 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.
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Olivia George, Virginia Pride TC - 13/14 Girls
George swept the throwing events, winning both the shot put and discus while setting personal bests of 41-0 and 98-3.5, respectively. The Virginia Pride standout continued her upward trajectory with two of the best performances of her young career.
After finishing 13th in the shot put at last year's AAU Junior Olympic Games, George returns to the national stage with significantly improved marks in both events. Her recent progression should make her a stronger contender against the nation's top throwers in Des Moines.
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Xavier Canfield Jr, HR Hurricanes - 17/18 Boys
Canfield captured the triple jump title with a leap of 47-3.25, marking his second consecutive competition eclipsing the 47-foot barrier. The performance follows his ninth-place finish in the event at New Balance Outdoor Nationals earlier this summer.
Ranked VA #9 this season, Canfield returns to the national stage after placing 11th in the triple jump at last year's AAU Junior Olympic Games. With a pair of consistent finishes under his belt, he'll be one of the athletes to watch in a talented field.
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Adalia Schmidt, NVA Track - 14 Girls
Schmidt claimed victories in both the 1,500m and 3,000m while adding a third-place finish in the 800m to cap a strong regional meet. She also ran a personal-best time of 10:35 in the 3,000m, one of the fastest performances in the country this season for her age group.
The NVA Track standout heads to Des Moines looking to improve on last year's 11th-place finish at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. She has continually progressed throughout the outdoor season and will enter the national meet as one of the top distance runners in her division.
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Quincy Madison, Virginia Pride TC - 8 Boys
Madison completed the sprint sweep, winning the 100m, 200m, and 400m dashes while setting personal bests of 13.96 and 29.34 in the 100m and 200m. The Virginia Pride standout has remained unbeaten in the 100m throughout the outdoor season.
If he makes the trip to Des Moines, it will mark Madison's first appearance at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. His consistent efforts throughout the summer have helped establish him as one of the top young sprinters to watch over the next several years.
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Janae Peoples, Dale City Lightning - 17/18 Girls
Peoples delivered one of the meet's most impressive performances, winning the 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump while setting a personal-best time of 11.93 in the 100m dash. She enters the national meet, boasting 10 victories in the horizontal jumps this summer.
The all-around upperclassman returns to the AAU Junior Olympic Games after placing fifth in the triple jump and ninth in the long jump last year. The junior also won a state title in the 100m dash this spring. With national experience and another outstanding outdoor campaign behind her, Peoples will have multiple opportunities to contend for All-American honors in Des Moines next week.