Sports

Who should be the 2025 Bowerman finalists in NCAA track and field?

The 10 men’s and women’s Bowerman semifinalists have been announced, providing a preview of the candidates for the award that goes to the most outstanding track and field athletes of the 2025 season. Here’s who I think should advance as top-three finalists for this year’s Bowerman. Athletes sorted alphabetically Women’s Bowerman Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico […]

Published

4 weeks ago

June 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Athletes sorted alphabetically

Women’s Bowerman

Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico

Pamela Kosgei had the best season of any freshman in the NCAA this year. She joins Doris Lemngole as the only two women to win two outright individual NCAA titles. Kosgei went undefeated outdoors in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters, owning the No. 2 time finish in the 5K and No. 2 and No. 3 all-time finishes in the 10K. The New Mexico rookie also ran 9:15.93 in the steeplechase during the regular season to make her the No. 3 all-time performer.

Indoors, Kosgei finished third in the 5000 meters while also running the sixth-fastest race in collegiate history in her season-opener.

Overall it was an all-time debut season for Kosegei, capped off with a sweep of distance titles outdoors. That should get her a nod as a finalist.

AWARDS: The 2025 Bowerman Semifinalists and Watch List for men’s and women’s NCAA track and field

Doris Lemngole, Alabama

Doris Lemngole is the only woman that is a multi-time semifinalist for the Bowerman and I think she’s the favorite to take home the award this year. And that’s with her cross country national title win not counting towards her Bowerman resume.

Nonetheless, her Bowerman resume is unmatched. A repeat win in the 3000 meter steeplechase outdoors and an indoor 5000 meter title make Lemngole the only woman in the NCAA this year with two outright individual titles in both the indoor and outdoor season.

Lemngole broke her own record in the steeplechase twice this year, becoming the first collegiate woman to ever break nine minutes with an 8:58.15 finish to win the NCAA title. She also ran another top-four all-time mark. Indoors, the Alabama superstar set the NCAA 5000 meter record in her season opener, running 14:52.57. She also finished second indoors in the 3000 meters.

It was a dominant season for Lemngole that should see her named a Bowerman finalist.

RECORDS: Every collegiate track and field record broken in 2025

Savannah Sutherland, Michigan

Sharika Nelvis in 2014 is the only woman in Bowerman history to have made her first Bowerman watch list appearance as a semifinalist and advanced to become a finalist. That list could become two women in 2025 with Savannah Sutherland. Sutherland received votes in the preseason and on the first watch list, but never made a watchlist until the announcement of semifinalists.

Then she did what fits the description of the Bowerman — something outstanding. Sutherland broke a record many thought could stand the test of time when she took down the 400 meter hurdles record. Sutherland ran 52.46 to win the NCAA title and surpass Sydney McLaughlin’s former record. Keeping up the outstanding narrative, Sutherland went undefeated in the 400 hurdles outdoors.

Indoors, Sutherland won the Big Ten 400 meters and finished fourth nationally in the event.

CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP: How USC, Texas A&M and Georgia won the 2025 DI outdoor team titles

Other top contenders for a finalist spot

Aaliyah Butler, Georgia

Aaliyah Butler’s season crescendoed in epic fashion. Individually, she won the outdoor 400 meter title with the No. 5 all-time performance and she ran the anchor leg on the winning 4×400 meter relay. She also did the same at outdoor SEC championships. From a team perspective, she helped Georgia win their first-ever SEC and NCAA women’s titles.

Butler also ran the third-fastest all-time 400 meters indoors while finishing as runner-up in the 400 and 4×4. Overall, Butler never lost a head-to-head 400 meter race across the indoor or outdoor season in 2025.

Could Butler’s finish to the season with the addition of a team title make her into a finalist? It could but when it comes to outstanding, the 400 hurdles collegiate record takes the cake.

Amanda Moll, Washington

Pole vaulter Amanda Moll has the indoor collegiate record, indoor NCAA title, three of the top six heights all-time indoors in the pole vault and the No. 2 and No. 3 all-time best outdoor pole vaults. However, she failed to win the outdoor pole vault title and saw her record fall to her twin sister.

Amanda has a better shot than her sister Hana (also a semifinalist) to become a finalist, since she set the outdoor record in the pole vault twice. However, a third-place finish at outdoor championships limits her to just semifinalist status when compared to the rest of her peers. Amanda is the only semifinalist that did not win an outdoor title.

Will Amanda’s lack of an outdoor title be overlooked, allowing her to still become a finalist? Possibly, but I have her on the outside looking in for now.

HISTORY: The Bowerman: Complete history of the track and field honor

Men’s Bowerman

Jordan Anthony, Arkansas

Jordan Anthony is the first men’s sprinter to win the 60-meter title indoors and 100-meter title outdoors since Christian Coleman did so in 2017. Coleman won the Bowerman in 2017.

Anthony also ran the No. 2 all-conditions 100 meter time in NCAA history when he ran 9.75 (+2.1). His outstanding performances during the outdoor season also showed at the SEC Championships where he won the 100 and 200 meters.

No athlete closed his season better than Anthony did outdoors. When combined with an indoor title, you have the makings of a Bowerman finalist.

CRYSTAL BALL: How the Bowerman watch lists predict the award’s final winner

Ezekiel Nathaniel, Baylor

Ezekiel Nathaniel is my pick for the third finalist spot. While he doesn’t have an indoor title like some of the other semifinalists nor does he have a collegiate record, Ezekiel does have a dominant event.

Nathaniel won the 400 hurdles title to cap off one of the greatest collegiate seasons in the event’s history. He ran 47.49 for the third-fastest finish in collegiate history, highlighting a total of four of the 10 fastest 400 hurdle times in collegiate history.

Adding to his Bowerman resume is the seventh-fastest indoor 400 meter race where he finished in 44.74 seconds, plus a second-place finish in the indoor 400 meters at NCAAs.

Ezekiel’s indoor success should be enough to add to his dominant outdoor success to make him a finalist.

INDOOR RECAP: How USC, Oregon won 2025 DI team titles

Ethan Strand, North Carolina

Ethan Strand had the best indoor season of any men’s semifinalist with a title in the 3000 meters and collegiate records in the 1500 meters, mile and 3000 meters. Outdoors, Strand ran the No. 2 all-time 1500 meters in May before finishing second in the 1500 meters at NCAAs.

While Strand doesn’t have an outdoor title, his indoor success is enough to carry him to the finalist stage.

MEET RECAPS: Penn Relays | Florida Relays | Texas Relays | SEC Outdoors

Other top contenders for a finalist spot

Ishmael Kipkurui, New Mexico

Ishmael Kipkurui is one of two Bowerman men’s finalists with a collegiate record and NCAA title, both coming in the 10,000 meters. He also ran the No. 4 all-time 5000 meters during the outdoor regular season. Kipkurui also has a pair of seventh-place finishes in the NCAA 5K outdoors and indoors, but is it enough to be a finalist?

Carlie Makarawu, Kentucky

Carli Makarawu swept the 200 meters this year with a pair of top-10 all-time finishes. Indoors he ran 20.13 indoors for the sixth-fastest of all-time and 19.84 outdoors for the 10th-fastest of all-time. Makarawu was outstanding when it mattered most at national championships, but a lack of a conference championship could hurt his case as a finalist in what figures to be a finalist.

CHAMPS: Every indoor and outdoor track and field individual event champion all-time

Ja’Kobe Tharp, Auburn

Ja’Kobe Tharp swept the short hurdles with wins in the 60 meter hurdles and 110 meter hurdles. Tharp became the No. 5 all-time performer with his 6.45 finish indoors and ran the No. 5 fastest race all-time with his 13.05 finish outdoors. Like Makarawu, Tharp stepped up on the biggest stage but it might not be enough to finish as a finalist.

Link

Sports

How to watch AAU Junior Olympics 2025: Schedule, times, channels, live streams for track and field events

The largest youth multi-sport event in the country is returning for its 59th annual edition — that’s right, the AAU Junior Olympic Games are back. 2025’s highly anticipated event is headed to Houston, marking the fourth time the city has hosted the Games. More than a dozen sports will be featured, like baton twirling, jump […]

Published

4 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The largest youth multi-sport event in the country is returning for its 59th annual edition — that’s right, the AAU Junior Olympic Games are back.

2025’s highly anticipated event is headed to Houston, marking the fourth time the city has hosted the Games. More than a dozen sports will be featured, like baton twirling, jump rope and flag football, but many supporters will be watching for the highly anticipated track and field events.

Nearly 15,000 youth athletes are preparing for a major weekend of competition. You won’t want to miss a second of the action.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games, including TV channel and streaming options for the annual event.

How to watch AAU Junior Olympics 2025: TV channel, live stream

The 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games will not be broadcast nationally. Instead, fans can stream the action live on FloTrack.

AAU Junior Olympics 2025 start time

Date: July 26 – Aug. 2
Time: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET

The 2025 AAU Junior Olympics track and field events will take place from Saturday, July 26, to Saturday, Aug. 2, from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET each day.

The track and field portion of competition will be held at Humble High School, just outside of Houston, Texas.

AAU Junior Olympics 2025 schedule

For a more detailed look at the track and field events schedule, head over to FloTrack’s website.

Link

Sports

15 best beaches in Stuart include Bathtub Reef Beach, St. Lucie Inlet

Stuart Beach, Bathtub Reef Beach, St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park, Blowing Rocks Preserve and Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge Beach top the list Bathtub Beach to House of Refuge Museum in Martin County in August 2024 Get a bird’s-eye view of Bathtub Beach to the House of Refuge Museum in Martin County in August […]

Published

39 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Stuart Beach, Bathtub Reef Beach, St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park, Blowing Rocks Preserve and Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge Beach top the list

Let’s go to the beach — in Stuart, Hobe Sound and Jupiter Island.

These are the best beaches in the area, either popular and packed with people or lesser-known with small parking lots to keep crowds away.

This list includes whether these beaches have restrooms and outdoor showers, as well as other amenities such as picnic pavilions and sand volleyball courts. All have parking lots, some paved and others not.

No lifeguards are on duty unless otherwise noted. All are free except state parks. No alcohol, fires, camping or fireworks are permitted at beaches in Stuart and Martin County. Leashed dogs are allowed on unguarded beaches in Martin County.

Listen to daily pre-recorded information, such as beach closure notices, tide times, surf and weather forecasts, by calling Martin County’s Beach Information Hotline at 772-320-3112.

Here are the 15 best beaches in Stuart, Hobe Sound and Jupiter Island, from north to south in Martin County.

Bob Graham Beach

3225 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart
0.7 miles south of Jensen Beach on State Road A1A
Undisturbed and undeveloped stretch of sand
Includes large paved parking lot and two wooden boardwalk beach accesses
Hike the Hutchinson Island Coastal Trail that connects to Beachwalk-Pasley Beach

Beachwalk-Pasley Beach

2801 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart
Secluded beach for quieter experience
Includes unpaved parking lot
Hike the Hutchinson Island Coastal Trail that connects to Bob Graham Beach

Bryn Mawr Beach

2661 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart
1 mile south of Jensen Beach on State Road A1A
Includes unpaved parking lot

Virginia Forrest Beach

1981 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart
Includes unpaved parking lot

Tiger Shores Beach

1337 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart
2 miles south of Jensen Beach on State Road A1A
Includes unpaved parking lot

Stuart Beach

889 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart
Lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at north tower and 10 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. at south tower
Includes two large paved parking lots, restrooms, showers, pavilions with picnic tables, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, playground, Seaside Cafe for food and drinks
Rolling beach wheelchairs are available for free at the lifeguard stations on first-come, first-serve basis

Santa Lucea Beach

55 N.E. McArthur Blvd., Stuart
5-acre natural area located on southern end of Hutchinson Island
Includes large unpaved parking lot and ADA beach access across wooden boardwalk
Sidewalk connects to Clifton S. Perry Beach natural area across street

Fletcher Beach

45 S.E. McArthur Blvd., Stuart
Half-mile south of Stuart Beach on State Road A1A
Untouched beach and quiet shores
Includes limited unpaved parking along roadway and short beach access

Ross Witham Beach

704 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
Located next to Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge Museum
Nicknamed “the turtle man’s beach”
Includes small paved parking along roadway
Snorkeling and diving access to Georges Valentine Underwater Archaeological Preserve Shipwreck Dive Site about 100 yards off shore

Chastain Beach

1213 S.E. McArthur Blvd., Stuart
Nicknamed “Stuart Rocks” by surfers because of rocky shoreline
Located between House of Refuge and Bathtub Beach along State Road A1A
Includes small unpaved parking lot, restrooms, showers, raised wooden boardwalk to watch surfing
Home to ancient burial site of Ais tribe of Native Americans, unearthed after Hurricane Nicole in 2022

Bathtub Reef Beach

1585 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
Known locally as “Bathtub Beach”
Lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
Includes large unpaved parking lot and restrooms
Unique and fragile reef system located just offshore, home to over 500 marine creatures that include endangered sea turtles, created by tiny tube-building Sabellariid sea worms cementing sand grains together
“Bathtub” effect occurs at low tide when calm water is warmed by sun and protected from waves breaking by the reef and rock formations

St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park

Located at Cove Road Park at east end of Cove Road where it meets Intracoastal Waterway
Open 8 a.m. until sunset daily; state park tram service to beach is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and state holidays
$3 per boat and $2 per kayak, canoe or paddleboard; use correct change and honor box to pay
One of few undeveloped barrier islands on Florida’s East Coast; secluded shell-covered beach accessed by water only, making it remote and preserved
Extensive Anastasia worm reef located offshore extends 4.7 miles along coast and is northernmost limit for ranges of several species of corals found in South Florida

Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge Beach

Hobe Sound Nature Center, 13640 S.E. Federal Highway (2 miles south of Bridge Road)
Entrance pass required for vehicles at Refuge Beach large paved parking lot located on North Beach Road at north end of Jupiter Island
$5 daily pass per vehicle, $25 yearly pass per vehicle, free with Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful: National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes (no pets allowed)
Contains largest contiguous section of undeveloped beach in Southeastern Florida and considered one of most productive sea turtle nesting areas in Southeastern U.S.
Made up of two separate tracts of land totaling over 1,000 acres: 735 acres on barrier island, or 3.5 miles of beach, just south of the St. Lucie Inlet Preserve; remaining acreage located across Indian River Lagoon with headquarters and visitor center

Hobe Sound Beach

1 S.E. Beach Road, Hobe Sound
Lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
Rolling beach wheelchairs are available for free at the lifeguard stations on first-come, first-serve basis
Includes large paved parking lot, restrooms, showers, pavilion with picnic tables

Blowing Rocks Preserve

574 S. Beach Road, Jupiter Island
Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, last entry at 4:15 p.m. (except Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas)
$2 donations per person benefits The Nature Conservancy (no pets allowed)
Largest stretch of exposed Anastasia limestone, or coquina rock, along the Atlantic coast
Got its name from way water bursts upward through holes in rocks during combination of rough surf, strong wind and high tide; can cause plumes of water to shoot up to 50 feet in air on extreme days
Includes Hawley Education Center and limited paved parking; closest additional parking located 1 mile south at Palm Beach County’s Coral Cove Beach Park

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at tcpalm.com/newsletters.

Link

Sports

Savannah State hosts 2025 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – Savannah State University welcomed over 7000 athletes and their families for one of the most prestigious competitions in Track and Field. The USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships started Monday at Ted Wright Stadium and will continue through the weekend. According to the Events General Counsel Sarah Austin, the […]

Published

59 minutes ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – Savannah State University welcomed over 7000 athletes and their families for one of the most prestigious competitions in Track and Field.

The USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships started Monday at Ted Wright Stadium and will continue through the weekend.

According to the Events General Counsel Sarah Austin, the event brings about a $15,000,000 economic boom to the Savannah area.

Although competing in the south during a heat wave may not have been ideal for the athletes

“Its really hot, most of our meets are like 60 degrees, its like… 90 here, on a good day,” said Jordan Wiggin, athlete.

It’s the competition and opportunity to show off their abilities on a national stage.

“I think we all want to run in college, I think I speak for the group here when I say we want to get out there for college,” said Wesley Isenburger, athlete.

Jordan Williams, Jordan Wiggins and Wesley Isenburger traveled to Savannah from Washington State all chasing the chance at that All American Title.

But the heat has been brutal.

And the competition is taking precautions like splitting the competition schedule into mornings and evening.

This gives athletes and crowds a break from the midday heat during some of the highest temperatures.

How to watch the Junior Olympics

You can watch the National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships live via their website usatf.tv/home!

Link

Sports

Sun City athlete shines at track and field championships

Dr. Lydia Woods, a 72-year-old Masters track and field athlete from Sun City, delivered a medal-winning performance at the 2025 USATF Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships July 17–20 in Huntsville, AL. Competing in the Women’s 70 division, Woods participated in a range of events over the four-day national competition. On the first day of […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

On the first day of competition (Thursday, July 17), athletes contended with sweltering heat and high humidity, conditions that proved challenging for many competitors. However, Dr. Woods — accustomed to Arizona’s summer temperatures — went on to secure a silver medal in the pentathlon, a sixth place ribbon in the hammer throw and another silver medal as part of the 4×800 meter relay team, contributing points to her team’s overall score.

The second and third days (Friday and Saturday) brought a different challenge: thunderstorms and lightning strikes, which repeatedly delayed events throughout both days. Despite the weather interruptions and extended competition hours, Woods remained focused and resilient. On Friday, she earned a gold medal in the 4×100 meter relay, a bronze medal in the steeplechase and another bronze in the long jump. She also captured a sixth place ribbon in the 400-meter run and a fifth place ribbon in the shot put.

Woods also added a fourth place ribbon in the triple jump and a sixth place ribbon in the weight throw. Due to overlapping event times and weather-related delays, she had to scratch the high jump and the 800-meter run.

The championship concluded Sunday, July 20, and Woods scratched the 1500-meter run but earned a silver medal in the pole vault and another silver in the 4×400 meter relay, the final event of the meet.

Woods competed as a member of the T&T International Racing Club, a team that went on to win the second place national trophy in women’s track and field at the 2025 championships. The women’s team scored a total of 320 points, with Woods contributing 48 points toward that national runner-up finish.

Off the track, Woods is the founder and president of Ambassadors for Senior Olympics, a nonprofit organization she established in 2007. Through this platform, she gives motivational presentations across the country, encouraging senior adults to embrace active aging and participate in lifelong sports. Her message promotes the physical, mental and emotional benefits of staying active at every stage of life.

A retired professor of kinesiology, nonprofit leader and world gold medalist, Woods has spent more than two decades competing in Masters Track and Field and has earned a 799 medals and ribbons in her athletic career.

“I don’t compete for the recognition,” Woods said. “I compete to show that aging is not a decline — it’s a stage for continuing purpose, strength, and joy.”

Link

Sports

ISU athletic department faces a $147M ‘funding gap.’ What’s to blame?

Iowa State University has “indefinitely postponed” a $25 million renovation planned for Hilton Coliseum and construction of a $20 million wrestling practice facility because of an athletic department budget shortfall that is one of the “top challenges facing the university.” Iowa State is placing blame on conference expansion, College Football Playoff revenue sharing and recent […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Iowa State is placing blame on conference expansion, College Football Playoff revenue sharing and recent NCAA litigation for an expected $147 million “funding gap” through fiscal year 2031.

“In the past two years there have been several transformational changes in college athletics that will result in $30M in recurring annual financial repercussions to the Athletics Department beginning this year,” Iowa State said in a budget report they submitted to the Iowa Board of Regents.

Iowa State expects to fall $24.5 million short of necessary funding in each of the next six years.

How does ISU plan to correct its budget shortfall?

Iowa State noted that it has paused a pair of high-profile athletics projects in response to the budget shortfall.

Iowa State has halted plans for a $20 million wrestling practice facility that were approved by the Iowa Board of Regents in 2023. The Malcolm Performance Center was going to be an expansion of the Lied Recreation Center, which included a 45,000-sqaure-foot renovation and a 16,000-square-foot addition. The facility would have also been used by the Iowa State track and field programs. The project would have included new weight rooms, locker rooms, lounges, sports medicine areas, meeting areas and coaches locker rooms, and a separate entrance for Iowa State-affiliated athletes and coaches.

Iowa State first proposed a $25 Hilton Coliseum renovation in 2019. The project, which has been “indefinitely postponed,” was meant to expand the arena’s concourses, add additional concession areas, replace ageing mechanical systems and improve fan accessibility.

Ticket sales will now include tax, sports asked to save costs

The university said it will also start charging sales tax on all ticket sales (the school had previously absorbed those costs), to help make up ground. They’ll also increase the annual required donation for Cyclone Club members by 20 %, which they believe will generate $3 million per year.

The school is implementing “cost reduction mandates” for all sports to “slow the growth of overall expenses.” Iowa State said they’ve already noticed savings by “reducing travel costs in Olympic sports,” which they includes “location of trips and modes of transportation.”

“ISU is engaging with the Big 12 Conference, ISU Foundation, sponsors, donors and other partners to explore additional opportunities to create growth in revenue sufficient to overcome future anticipated revenue shortfalls and to otherwise support the continued success and viability of the ISU Athletics Program,” Iowa State said in the board documents. “ISU views this effort as one of the top priorities and challenges facing the university.”

What does Iowa State believe is to blame for the budget issues?

Iowa State listed several reasons as to why they believe they’ll face budget issues in the next six years.

Iowa State mentioned the Big 12’s expansion from 10 teams to 16 is a reason for less revenue, but did not elaborate how. The university also said revenue will shrink because of the NCAA’s recent settlement with the House that allows schools to pay its student athletes.

“The decrease in Conference/NCAA revenue is largely the result of the recent settlement of litigation and costs being absorbed by the Big 12 Conference or NCAA, thereby reducing the net revenues available to distribution to member schools,” Iowa State said in its report to the Regents.

Iowa State University also notes that the school anticipates it will receive less money from the College Football Playoff because of an “adjust(ed) distribution model for revenue generated by the (12-team) College Football Playoff, negatively impacting the Big 12 Conference.”

Iowa State continues to move forward with CyTown construction

Iowa State University expects its innovative, $200 million, 94-acre CyTown entertainment district to open in 2027. The project will include a mini football field, birdhouse-themed playground, a patio bar and grill, an outdoor stage and a Marriott hotel.

A portion of the revenue from CyTown is expected to help fund renovations of the buildings within the Iowa State Center, which includes Stephens Auditorium, Hilton and the Scheman Building.

The Iowa Board of Regents will review Iowa State’s athletic budget and the school’s overall budget at its next meeting on Wednesday, July 30.

Link

Sports

Second annual South Bend Police Athletic League Track and Field Showcase

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It was a showdown of speed at John Adam’s High School Fri. evening, where about 50 of South Bend’s Police Athletic League (PAL) members competed in the second annual track and field showcase. Five of the young runners at the showcase will be heading to Texas on Sun., as they qualified […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Five of the young runners at the showcase will be heading to Texas on Sun., as they qualified over the summer for the 2025 AAU Junior Olympics.

“Most of the kids… this is either their first or their second year running track period. Last year we had one or two qualify, [they] weren’t able to go. This year we were blessed enough to be able to sponsor all five kids to be able to send them down there and give them the opportunity to compete,” said Georgia wells, the PAL track and field head coach and a detective for the South Bend Police Department.

Wells said it’s the support from the community that helps her athletes shine.

“Being on this national stage is a huge accomplishment, you know, it’s going to open doors for them down the line when it comes to college or high school and other athletics. However far they want to take it and just know that they have that support here at home is gonna make the world of difference,” expressed Wells.

Each of the five Junior Olympic qualifiers had their own advice to share for any kid thinking about joining one of the activities PAL has to offer.

Zyaire Washington, a second grader at Bittersweet Elementary School, passionately exclaimed, “Come on! You got this!”Meanwhile, Peyton Bradford, a second grader at Christ the King Catholic School, offered the encouragement to “Try their best,” and Joel Wells, a third grader at Battell Elementary School, gave the awesome advice to “Push more.”

Finishing out the wise words from these rising stars, Tray’Von Irons, a third grader at Coquillard Elementary School, said to “Listen and do your best.” The fifth and final Junior Olympic qualifier, Maurice Griffin, added, “Keep trying and never give up, because they can do it one day.”

To follow along with the five future Olympians during their trip to Texas, click here.

Link