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.
Schenectady welcomed athletes from 8 to 18 years of age during the final week of June to compete at the AAU Region 1 Championship 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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Khadijah Diagne, MetroCobras TC - 15/16 Girls
Diagne swept the 100m and 200m dash titles at the AAU Region 1 Championships, running a personal-best 11.93 to claim the shorter sprint. The standout freshman has enjoyed a remarkable season, collecting 15 victories across the 100m, 200m, and 400m.
Her first high school campaign was equally impressive, as she captured Massachusetts Division 2 state titles in all three sprint events. If she makes the trip to Des Moines, Diagne will be one of many rising stars to watch in the sprint events.
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Amar Skeete - Metro Cobras TC - 17/18 Boys
Skeete claimed regional titles in both the long jump and triple jump, continuing a breakout junior season that established him as one of the nation's premier horizontal jumpers. His summer success followed an outstanding high school campaign highlighted by a national title at New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
The Massachusetts standout finished the outdoor season ranked US #8 in the triple jump and has consistently competed against the country's best over the course of his high school career. Should he travel to Des Moines, Skeete would enter as one of the favorites to capture the national title.
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Hope Edwards, Trenton TC - 15/16 Girls
Edwards won both the 400m dash and 400m hurdles at the AAU Region 1 Championships, highlighted by a 60.83 victory in the hurdles just one week after running 58.72 to finish third at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. She also posted a personal-best 55.39 in the 400m dash during the regional meet.
Despite competing in her first season on the AAU circuit, Edwards has quickly emerged as one of the nation's top long sprinters and hurdlers. If she heads to Des Moines, she'll immediately become one of the favorites in the 400m hurdles.
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Jiovanni Cochran, NJ - 14 Boys
Cochran put together one of the meet's top all-around performances, winning the 400m, 800m, and 200m hurdles while adding a runner-up finish in the 100m hurdles. He also set personal bests of 52.08 in the 400m and an impressive 2:07 in the 800m, which would put him among the favorites in the two-lap event.
The standout from New Jersey has developed into one of the top athletes in his age division, capable of competing at a high level in both the sprints and middle distances. If he makes his first trip to Des Moines, Cochran will be a serious contender in multiple events.
Ayrian Walters, Ruff KUTZ Track - 14 Girls
Walters dominated the Region 1 Qualifier, winning the individual shot put, discus, javelin, high jump, as well as the pentathlon to complete one of the most impressive performances of the weekend. Her versatility across every discipline continues to separate her from the rest of her age group, which has been on display for the last several summers.
The Ruff KUTZ star returns to the AAU Junior Olympic Games having won the shot put and finishing fourth in the high jump in each of the past three years, which is a wild statistic. Given her proven success on the national stage and another dominant regional showing, Walters will once again be among the favorites in the two events next week.