The 2026 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships concluded Sunday after seven days of competition at Falcon Stadium on the campus of Cerritos College in Norwalk, California. More than 6,308 athletes from all 50 states competed in the nation's premier youth track and field event.
The New York Association enjoyed an outstanding week on the national stage as 47 athletes combined for 109 individual and relay performances, earning one national championship and 26 All-American honors against the nation's top young competitors.
Leading the way was Darius Bolling (Prospect Park Youth RC), who captured the boys 13–14 100m national championship in 10.95 seconds before returning to claim a runner-up finish in the 200m in 21.70 seconds. Bolling's remarkable performances established new New York Association records in both events. In the 200m, he also ran faster than the previous national record but was edged into second place in one of the fastest races in meet history.
The Wajid sisters helped power an exceptional performance by VO2Max TC. Mariam Wajid earned four All-American honors, placing second in the girls 13–14 3000m, third in the 1500m, sixth in the 800m, and helping the girls 13–14 4x800m relay team capture bronze medals alongside teammate Aria Boschen. Sister Aisha Wajid added a pair of All-American performances by finishing second in the girls 15–16 800m and fourth in the 1500m.
Sisters Charlotte Codrington and Morgan Codrington continued the remarkable week for VO2Max TC, combining for three All-American honors. Charlotte earned a runner-up finish in the girls 7–8 1500m and placed fifth in the 800m, while Morgan finished fifth in the girls 9–10 1500m and sixteenth in the 800m.
New York athletes added four additional runner-up performances as Kane Poje (Neversink TC) placed second in both the boys 17–18 shot put and hammer throw, further highlighting the outstanding depth displayed by New York athletes throughout the week.
Additional third-place finishes were recorded by Joakeem Stewart (Hall's Express Youth Track II) in the boys 15–16 long jump and the VO2Max TC girls 13–14 4x800m relay team.
Several athletes continued to add to New York's impressive medal haul with fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-place finishes. Fourth-place finishers included Hudson McGuire (Ocean Breeze Wave Runners), who placed fourth in the boys 9–10 800m and fifth in the 1500m, and Kairi Gillespie (Chelsea Greyhounds), who finished fourth in the girls 7–8 800m and eighth in the 400m.
Fifth-place finishers included Khloe Khan (Mo Better Jaguars TF) in the girls 15–16 100m, Si'myra Daley (Chelsea Greyhounds) in the girls 13–14 400m, and Madison Praylow (Chelsea Greyhounds), who enjoyed an outstanding championship by placing fifth in the girls 17–18 triple jump, eighth in the 400m hurdles, and ninth in the 100m hurdles.
Sixth-place finishers included Nalo Gandy (Brooklyn Speed and Power) in the boys 15–16 200m and Aria Boschen in the girls 13–14 2000m steeplechase. Boschen's time of 7:45.43 established a new New York association record.
Several athletes came within a few places of earning All-American honors, including Amora Johnson (Mo Better Jaguars TF), who finished ninth in the girls 15–16 100m; Massimo Yeung (Brooklyn Speed and Power), who placed ninth in the boys 15–16 400m; Tatiana O'Neal (Unattached), who finished 10th in the girls 17–18 3000m; Riley Johnson (All American Blazers), who placed 10th in the girls 9–10 long jump; Aiden Lustberg (All American Blazers), who finished 12th in the boys 9–10 high jump; Vivian Ehmer (Westchester Wolves), who placed 13th in the girls 11–12 1500m; and Andrew Jean-Baptiste (Hall's Express Youth Track II), who finished 14th in the boys 17–18 1500m.
Additional notable performances included efforts by Joie Christie-Ward, Victoria Pavani, Ari Pennicooke, Shanelle Rivera, Cali Meade, Isabella Haggins, Krystal Holder, Nicole Valladares, Ayden Palmer, Malachi Waysome, Lucas Rutherford, Sena Ahouandjinou, Victory O'Bryan, Makenzie Reynolds, Jamison Decker, Scarlett Shin, Rosie Scandiffio, Chase Castleberry, Cassel Smith, and numerous relay teams representing clubs from throughout the state.
VO2Max TC, Chelsea Greyhounds, Ocean Breeze Wave Runners, Mo Better Jaguars TF, Brooklyn Speed and Power, Hall's Express Youth Track II, All American Blazers, Prospect Park Youth RC, and several other clubs helped showcase the depth of New York's youth track and field community during the week-long championship.