Some Big Names to Watch for at the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic Games

Read the originally published article on www.milesplit.com

With over 12,000 athletes set to descend at Truist Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T, the event will play host to a wide range of record-breaking performances. 

Over the next few days, we'll outline some of the top events and athletes to watch over the course of the championships, which will stream live on FloTrack and MileSplit. 

Make sure to stay tuned for more coverage in the lead-up, as we break down all the major plot lines to follow. 

Below, we dive into the most compelling storylines heading into the sprint events.


IT COULD BE THE KENDRICK JONES SHOW
The AAU Junior Olympic Games plays host to fast-rising talents in the sprints every year, and 2024 should be no different. 

This time around, a new stakeholder could very well emerge, and his name just might be Kendrick Jones, a rising junior at Lake Belton High School. 

Jones, a Texas Class 5A state champion in the 200m, is entered in the 200m, 400m and long jump in Greensboro, and in those events he's clocked personal best times and marks of 20.84, 46.64 and 24-5.

He returns to this year's AAU championships in the 15-16yo category following national wins in the 200m over the past two seasons. 

But Jones' aspirations may aim higher here. 

He has said he wants to chase after Erriyon Knighton's AAU national record of 20.33 seconds in the 200m, a time which still stands as the 16-year-old age group record. 

Knighton, as we all know, is now a member of Team U.S.A. and is headed to his second Olympics after qualifying for the 200m with a time of 19.73.


The Boys 100m 17-18yo Final Could Feature Significant Star Power
Take your pick. 

The boys 17-18yo age group 100m final should be rich with potential. 

There's reigning adidas Track Nationals champion Niles Briggman, a rising senior at Hayfield Secondary who has authored a personal best of 10.47. 

Then there's Antwan Hughes, a University of South Carolina signee and graduate of Parkland Magnet, who's finishing off his high school career with one last go at AAU. He clocked a wind-legal best of 10.52 over the spring and an all conditions time of 10.24w in April.

There's Dezmone Starks (10.64), Terrance Mahomes (10.75) and Evan Boykin (10.60), all capable of bringing the heat into the final. 

But let's leave things with Jordan Urrutia and Le'Ezra Brown, a duo who may present the stiffest test for Briggman and Co. 

Urrutia dropped a career best 10.38w in June at his regional AAU meet, a performance which may place him as one of the favorites. The Alabama Class 7A state champion and University of Mississippi recruit ran 10.62 to finish off his regular season.

Then there's Brown, one of the country's top hurdlers, a Nike Outdoor Nationals champion at the 110mH distance -- as well as a third-place finisher at U.S. U20s -- who finished second in the 100m at Brooks PR. 

Brown's expertise may be in the 110mH.

But his power and drive may also be good enough to win this final. All things being said, this final will be one of the top draw's at AAU.

For reference, many of these athletes will carry over to the 200m, including the likes of Urrutia, Briggman, Mahomes, Starks and Boykin.


Who Will Be the New King of the 400m?
The quarter-mile feature some new faces, and maybe some familiar ones. 

While it looks like we don't get to witness Jonathan Simms run back his 45.12 from last year, in his place could yield some new sub-46 runners. 

Those among them include Stefon DoDoo, Andrew Salvodon and Ade Lloyd.

Lloyd could prove to be especially compelling. The rising senior from Rosemont Harriton (PA), a runner-up in the 400m at the PIAA Class AAA championships, broke out in a big way over 2024, clocking personal bests across the board in the 100m (10.78), 200m (21.22) and 400m (46.58). 

He wants to keep the good times rolling. 

Then there's Salvodon, hailing from Virginia Beach. The Virginian ran 46.44 at his AAU Region meet, which is an incredible performance on its own. He also won a VHSL Class 5 title in 47.19 and was fifth in the New Balance Nationals Outdoor final which featured Olympian Quincy Wilson. 

DoDoo could be a surprise here, too. The middle-distance threat with a 1:49.69 PR has gone 47.53 for 400m.


Ohio Sprint Stars Looking to Dominate in the 100m-200m
Ohio is looking to bring the heat with the likes of Olivia Pace and Maira Scott. 

The Ohio Heat twosome, both headed to the University of Southern California in the fall, won two Ohio Division I titles in June, with Pace taking the 100m title in 11.65 and Scott following in the 200m in 23.66.

At AAU, Pace is entered in the 100m and 200m, while Scott is scheduled for the 200m.

They should be among the favorite to contend for titles. Each have had successful national seasons, with Pace scoring fifth-place in the 100m at Brooks PR and Nike Outdoor Nationals, while Scott was third in the 200m at the latter event.

But neither won titles at AAU last year, either, which makes their road to the finals all the more redemptive. 

Then there's the challengers -- and there are plenty. 

Tennessee-based Danielle Dunning will be a major test in the 100m, while Maryland's Jasmine Cook will also look to qualify into the final. There's also Kymora-Lee Williams, who will have the fastest seed time of anyone in the 100m at 11.37w. 

In the 200m, Scott and Pace will face North Carolina-based Maya Love and Williams.