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.
Monroe welcomed athletes from 8 to 18 years of age during the final week of June to compete at the AAU Region 25 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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Cassidee Fraser, RunU Xpress - 17/18 Girls
Fraser swept the sprint titles at the AAU Region 25 Qualifier, winning both the 100m and 200m dashes to continue an outstanding sophomore campaign. The North Carolina state leader in the 100m also captured 4A state championships in both events, setting the stage for one of the premier sprint showdowns in Des Moines.
Returning to the AAU Junior Olympic Games for the first time since 2022, Fraser already owns national experience after placing sixth in the 100m and fourth in the 200m. The 2025 adidas Track Nationals champion in the 100m will be among the favorites to contend for multiple All-American honors.
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Dwayne Allen, Thomasville Bulldogs Elite - 14 Boys
Allen captured regional titles in both the high jump and triple jump, extending his streak to four consecutive AAU Region 25 championships in the high jump. He also recorded personal bests in both events, clearing 5-7.5 in the high jump and soaring 40-0.5 in the triple jump.
The Thomasville Bulldogs Elite star has been a consistent performer on the national stage, having finished runner-up finish in the high jump at the 2023 AAU Junior Olympic Games. With brand-new career-best marks entering Des Moines, Allen will once again be in the hunt for a podium finish, riding a wave of momentum into the final meet of the summer.
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Madison Davis, Panthers Elite - 17/18 Girls
Davis remained undefeated in both the shot put and discus this summer, sweeping the throws titles at the AAU Region 25 Qualifier. The reigning AAU Junior Olympic discus champion has continued her dominance following a stellar high school season.
The Panthers Elite standout also swept the North Carolina 5A state titles in the shot put and discus before adding a national title in the discus at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. If she makes the trip to Des Moines, Davis will be one of the favorites to successfully defend her discus crown while contending in the shot put as well.
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Che'kai Hicks, Track Masterz - 17/18 Boys
Hicks continued his outstanding season by winning both the 100m and 200m dashes at the AAU Region 25 Qualifier, setting a new personal-best time of 20.90 in the 200m. The North Carolina state champion has established himself as one of the fastest sprinters in the country entering the summer championship season.
After placing ninth in the 200m at New Balance Outdoor Nationals, Hicks heads to what would be his second AAU Junior Olympic Games with plenty of momentum. The standout from the Tar Heel State will be firmly in the mix for multiple All-American honors in the two sprint events.
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Kyleigh Bryant, Charlotte Panthers - 11 Girls
Bryant swept the distance events at the Region 25 Qualifier, winning the 800m, 1,500m, and 3,000m while setting a personal best of 2:28 in the 800m. The rising distance star representing the Charlotte Panthers has continued to establish herself as one of the top young endurance runners in the Southeast.
Bryant has enjoyed consistent success at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, winning the 1,500m title in 2023 before finishing runner-up in the event each of the last two years. With another dominant regional performance behind her, she'll once again be one of the favorites in the distance events next week in Des Moines.