A tradition continues and another one is getting started as a host of area athletes will be competing July 29-Aug. 8 at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics in track and field in Des Moines, Iowa.
For a 15th consecutive year Mach I Track Club will be represented at the AAU Junior Olympics. This season they qualified nine athletes, of which eight are planning to make the trip.
“It is special to have a current streak going on that does inspire the athletes to want to continue the tradition of going to nationals,” Mach I coach Lupe Torres said. “For a small club it’s even more special since we don’t have a lot of athletes.”
Among those who qualified is Josh Fink (15-16 Boys), who is seeking a fourth consecutive national championship in race walking, having qualified this year in the 3000-meter distance in the event, along with the 3000 run. His younger sister Jenna (11-Under Girls) won regionals in three events, the 1500 race walk, along with the 1500 and 3000 runs, and is likewise defending a national title in race walking.
Also returning from last year are Emmy Strathmeyer (17-18 Girls) in the 2000 steeplechase and 3000, Cole Bettger (17-18 Boys) in the 3000, and Miguel Martinez (9-Under Boys) in the 800 and 1500. Strathmeyer had a pair of top-10 finishes last season, taking fourth in the steeplechase and eighth in the 3000, while Bettger was ninth in the 3000 in the 15-16 age group.
Top 10 finishers in each event earn All-American status.
Other Mach I qualifiers and their events are (running distances in meters):
Bear Wilberts (9-Under Boys), 1500.
Josephine Heady (9-Under Girls), 1500.
Corrina Lanham (13-Under Girls), 3000.
Also qualifying was Kambria Evans (13-Under Girls) in the 1500, but she has opted not to make the trip, Torres said.
Wilbert’s, Heady, and Lanham are all first-year competitors.
“It’s really saying something to be able to qualify in your first year,” Torres said. You have to be willing to put in a lot of work to get there.”
In 2025 the Supersonic Track Club made their initial foray into the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics by sending seven. This season they qualified 18 for Des Moines.
Four athletes are returning from last season, Sawyer Loe, Colsen Ing, and Carlito Richards, all in the 13-14 Boys division, along with Bridger Jarrett in the 10-Under Boys 10-Under category. Ing placed fifth in the 800, Loe was seventh in the pole vault, and they joined Richards and Jude Jackson (not competing this year) on the 12th-place 4x400 relay.
“I believe the success of our athletes last year inspired even more athletes to give AAU Track and Field a try this season,” Supersonic coach Richard Searcy said.
“Before the season began, I sat down with Carlito, Sawyer, and Colsen to discuss their goals for the upcoming year. Originally, we had planned to attend the State Games of America at Penn State (TAAF Nationals). This event is held every two years, and after competing in San Diego in 2024, our athletes felt there was not enough high-level competition.
“During our meeting, all three athletes agreed that they wanted to continue pursuing AAU competition because it offers the strongest competitive environment and gives them the opportunity to challenge themselves against the best athletes in the country.”
The complete list of Supersonic qualifiers includes:
8-Under Boys: Mark Kupchynskyi, long jump; Ryan Kelly, 800.
10-Under Boys: Bridger Jarrett, 800, 1500.
13-Under Boys: Lawson Loe, 3000 race walk.
14-Under Boys: Sawyer Loe, pentathlon, 800, 200; Carlito Richards, long jump; Easton Lawrence, shot put, discus; Mason Griggs, pole vault; Aiden Wallace, 1500, 3000; Blake Galbreaith, 3000; 4x800 relay of Loe, Richards, Colsen Ing, Rayce Blair; 4x400 relay of Loe, Richards, Ing, Blair.
16-Under Boys: Henry Westvang, javelin, discus; Justin Fidler, javelin.
13-Under Girls: Ashlyn Gunter, 200 hurdles, 100 hurdles.
14-Under Girls: Luciana Craven, 800.
16-Under Girls: Evelyn Woody, 2000 steeplechase; Anna Wyatt, 800, 1500.
“I am extremely proud of the progress these athletes have made. Their hard work, commitment, and dedication to the sport are remarkable,” Searcy said. “While many kids spend their summers swimming, playing video games, staying up late, and enjoying a more relaxed schedule, these athletes are training three days a week, with some even training twice a day.
“They sacrifice much of their summer to pursue their goals in track and field, and that level of dedication is what sets them apart. The commitment extends beyond the athletes themselves. Their families have fully embraced the journey as well. “Many parents choose to postpone summer vacations to ensure their athletes don’t miss important training sessions. In many ways, our trips to the Junior Olympics have become our summer vacations.”
Searcy said he believes his team will also add to their All-American accolades this year.
“Based on the work these athletes have put in and the progress they have shown throughout the season, I believe we will have more than two All-Americans this year,” he said.
Searcy said he is also excited to watch the team’s Texas Amateur Athletic Federation athletes compete at the TAAF Region 4 Regional Meet on July 16-17 as they attempt to qualify for the 2026 Summer Games of Texas State Meet on July 30-Aug. 2 in Bryan/College Station.
“We have several talented young athletes in our TAAF program who could eventually transition into AAU competition over the next few years, and the future of our program looks very bright,” he said.
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