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.
Arlington welcomed athletes from 8 to 18 years of age during the third week of June to compete at the AAU Region 18 Championships 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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Aaliyah Birdine, Track Dynamite - 15/16 Girls
One of Texas' premier sprinters continued her summer campaign, capturing the 100m and 400m dash titles at the Region 18 qualifier. Aaliyah Birdine once again proved why she has become one of the circuit's most accomplished athletes, securing another trip to the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
Last season, she finished seventh in the 400m at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, and this August will mark her fifth appearance at the summer showcase. Birdine established herself as one of Texas' rising sprinters this spring, leaving the UIL 5A Region 2 Championships with two top 5 finishes in the 100m and 200m, narrowly missing out on her first state meet berth, and has carried that momentum into the AAU circuit.
With years of experience on the national stage, Birdine will once again be one of many athletes you won't want to miss in Des Moines.
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Macavion Hill, BETTER THAN THAT INC. - 17/18 Boys
After wrapping up an impressive season on the track this spring, Macavion Hill has carried that momentum into the AAU circuit, winning the 200m dash at the Region 18 qualifier to secure another trip to the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
Hill finished sixth at the UIL 6A State Championships in the 100m dash this spring, one of the deepest sprint fields in Texas, and will bring that valuable experience to Des Moines next month. His success on the AAU stage is equally impressive, having earned third- and fourth-place finishes in the sprint events at the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic Games and winning a national title in the 200m dash in 2022.
Entering the final stretch of the summer season, Hill appears to be one of the event's top contenders in his age division, and his experience on the sport's biggest stages should help as he looks to add another national medal to an already decorated mantel.
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Olivia Robinson, The Throwing Factory - 13/14 Girls
Already one of the nation's premier young throwers, Olivia Robinson continued her dominant season by sweeping the shot put and discus competitions at the Region 18 qualifier. Representing The Throwing Factory, Robinson once again showcased why she is considered one of the favorites heading into the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
Earlier this summer, Robinson broke the USATF 14-year-old national record in the discus with a massive throw of 144-2 at the USATF Southwestern Association Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, establishing herself as one of the country's most prominent rising stars.
Robinson enters this year's national meet as the defending AAU Junior Olympic champion in the discus after capturing the title last summer. With a national record under her belt, she will undoubtedly be one of the headline athletes in Des Moines, and she stands to have a great chance of defending her national title while wrapping up one of the country's most impressive youth seasons.
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Michael Eddings, Track Dynamite - 11/12 Boys
Michael Eddings continued his successful summer running career by capturing the 200m and 400m dash titles at the Region 18 qualifier last month while also finishing runner-up in the 100m.
This summer is Eddings' fourth consecutive season qualifying for the national meet, a testament to his consistency in the country's premier youth track & field competition. Last season, he placed fifth in the 400m at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, and he'll return to Des Moines looking to improve upon his finish in Humble last year.
With valuable national experience already under his belt, he has positioned himself as a top contender for a podium position in his age group's sprint events. As he closes out another successful AAU season, don't be surprised to see him once again challenge for a spot on the podium.
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Taylor-Marie Wilson, Grand Prairie Storm - 17/18 Girls
Taylor-Marie Wilson continued her phenomenal season by winning the long jump at the Region 18 qualifier while also placing second in the 100m dash and fourth in the 200m dash to qualify in all three for the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
In her first year competing in the event, she captured the UIL 6A District 11 title before advancing to the regional championships this spring. That momentum has carried into the summer, where she added another championship performance at the AAU regional meet.
Now headed to Des Moines, Wilson will have an opportunity to continue building on a season filled with firsts. Given the rapid improvement she has shown in the long jump over the last few months, she has emerged as one of the surprise podium contenders at this year's summer extravaganza.