Photo: MileSplit
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The USATF Region 5 and 7 Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships came and went earlier this month, and some of the Midwest's brightest stars proved why they've earned their spot at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships this week.
Take a look at eight of the top athletes that both regions had to offer!
2026 USATF NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPIC TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS - JULY 27-AUGUST 2
ZION MORRISON
Flossmoor (Ill.)
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After leading all qualifiers for the 100m final after posting an 11.16, Morrison clocked 11.18 in his third-place finish in the short-sprint final. The junior didn't leave empty-handed, coming back to win the 200m in 22.21, his third-fastest time of the season. After finishing runner-up a year ago, Morrison is hoping to leave California with another pair of medals in hand.
A pair of runner-up finishes and a region title was the name of the game for Brown earlier this month, as she won silver in both the 100m and 200m while taking home two golds with the Vipers Track Club in the 4x100m and Mixed 4x100m. Individually, she clocked 12.28 and 24.94 in the 100m and 200m finals, and helped her quartets throw down a 46.78 and 46.16 (Mixed) in both of their wins.
It was a perfect weekend for Karonwi, as he won the 400mH crown while picking up a pair of relay titles in the 4x100m and 4x400m. In the lone event where hurdles were involved, he stopped the clock at 55.57 as he won by half of a second. In the 4x100m, the Indiana Storm ran 42.05 as they won by nearly three seconds, and added a five-second win in the 4x400m after clocking 3:23.48.
Just like a lot of the stars on this list, Marx's weekend was a perfect ending that resulted in four region titles. Her only individual event on the track was one of the hardest events there is, the 400m, but it was no problem as she ran 54.60 in her comfortable win. The Vipers Track Club also won the Mixed 4x400m, 4x100m, and 4x400m, with Marx anchoring all three as they ran 3:31.86, 46.78, and 3:52.17, respectively.
Palatine (Fremd) (Ill.)
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It's safe to say that Carter had one of the busier weekends of any athlete, winning the decathlon in dominant fashion over a competitive field. Across the 10 events, Carter won the 110mH, discus, high jump, long jump, and shot put, while finishing third, fourth, fifth, second, and second in the 100m, 400m, 1500m, javelin, and pole vault. Overall he tallied 5,088 points, nearly 400 points ahead of the runner-up.
Smith was a force to be reckoned with at the region championships, cruising to titles in the 100mH and 400mH, while also helping the Vipers Track Club win a title in the 4x400m. Over the hurdles, she ran 14.71 and 1:02.75, and along with an elite quartet, she helped them drop a 3:52.17. If that wasn't enough, Smith also finished runner-up in the triple jump after jumping 37-6.
Harris was a machine in Terre Haute, winning the 400m title while taking home wins alongside his teammates in the Mixed 4x100m and Mixed 4x400m. In the open 400m, Harris dipped below 50 seconds once again, running 49.33 as he won by one-third of a second. In both of the relays, the Vipers Track Club clocked 3:31.86 as the leadoff leg, and 46.16 as he took the baton around the final curve.
The junior swept the long and triple jump titles earlier this month, continuing her strong season that began back in April. In the long jump, she jumped 18-2, her third-best mark of the season, and added a mark of 37-8.25 in the triple, which marked her sixth-consecutive top-three finish in the event.
Photo: MileSplit
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