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.
Knoxville welcomed athletes from 8 to 18 years of age during the final week of June to compete at the AAU Region 6 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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Kennedi Scales, Rutherford County TC - 8 & Under Girls
Scales swept the 100m and 200m titles at the Region 10 Qualifier, continuing an impressive first season on the AAU circuit. The young sprinter has now won 12 races across the two events this summer, establishing herself as one of the top newcomers in her age group.
Despite it being her first year on the AAU track & field circuit, Scales has shown remarkable progress throughout the outdoor season. She'll enter Des Moines undefeated and with the confidence of an athlete who has yet to be challenged in the sprint events.
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Braylin McCulloch, Turbo Elite TC - 10 Boys
McCulloch claimed regional titles in both the high jump and long jump, while also placing third in the 100m dash. He cleared a personal-best 4-7.75 in the high jump and matched his season best of 15-10.5 in the long jump to continue another strong summer campaign.
The Turbo Elite standout is no stranger to the national stage after placing third in both jump events at last year's AAU Junior Olympic Games. With another year of development, he'll once again be among the favorites to reach the podium in Des Moines.
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Maddox Hale, Alabama Heat - 9 Girls
Hale produced one of the top distance performances at the Region 6 Qualifier, winning the 1,500m in 5:44 by nearly 40 seconds before returning to capture the win in the 800m in 2:46. She finished just two seconds shy of her personal best in the shorter event while completing the distance double.
The Alabama standout has quickly emerged as one of the state's brightest young distance runners through a dominant summer campaign. If her recent progression continues, she'll not only be a strong contender in both events at her first AAU Junior Olympic Games, but will be a force to be reckoned with in Alabama for years to come.
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Ethan Bell, Over the Mountain TC - 12 Boys
Bell swept the throwing events at the Region 6 Qualifier, winning the shot put, discus, and javelin to punch his ticket to the AAU Junior Olympic Games. The three wins mark his fourth victory in each of the three disciplines so far this summer.
After competing in all three events at last year's AAU Junior Olympic Games, Bell returns with valuable experience on the national stage and an additional year of development under his belt. His ability to contend across every throwing event makes him one of the most versatile athletes in his age division.
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Alayna Duhart, Brentwood Academy - 17/18 Girls
Duhart dominated the shot put competition at the Region 6 Qualifier, winning with a throw of 42-9.75 while also qualifying for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in the discus. The victory marked her 10th shot put title of the outdoor season.
A two-time Tennessee state champion in the shot put, Duhart has consistently proven herself against some of the state's top competition. If she makes the trip to Des Moines, she'll have the opportunity to translate that success onto the national stage and contend for an All-American finish.