Oakdale wasn't the only city hosting an AAU Regional Qualifier in California.
Escondido welcomed athletes from 8 to 18 years of age during the third week of June to compete at the AAU Region 23 Championships in preparation for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa, beginning August 1st through the 8th.
Here are a few athletes you need to keep an eye on as the summer's biggest track & field extravaganza nears.
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Kaiden Johnson-Castro, CA - 9 Boys
If you're looking for experience, look no further than Kaiden Johnson-Castro representing San Diego Elite Youth this summer. After three top-6 finishes at the AAU Junior Olympic Games last summer, he is back and looking for more this year.
Johnson-Castro scored a pair of victories at June's regional qualifier, winning the 100m and 200m dashes, while also finishing second in the long jump. The 9-year-old sensation has set personal bests of 13.40 (100m), 27.45 (200m), and 15-4.5 (LJ) this summer.
He enters the final stretch of the summer track & field season as one of the top contenders to win his division in all three events and has a chance to leave Des Moines on top of the podium in more than just one.
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Dainya Troung, CA - 15/16 Girls
She didn't face much competition at this year's Region 22 qualifying meet, but it really wouldn't have mattered. For the fourth straight year, Dainya Truong has qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
Truong scored victories in the 200m dash and 800m, starting this summer's unbeaten streak in the two events, setting a pair of personal best times of 29.20 and 2:48, respectively. She also secured her spot in Des Moines in six other events - yes, six. In addition to the two running events, Troung won the 100m hurdles, high jump, long jump, triple jump, javelin, and shot put competitions.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Havoc Track Club underclassman won the heptathlon at the USATF Region 15 Championships two weeks back and has scored 15 victories across three meets this summer. Given she makes the trip to Iowa next month, expect to be 'wowed' by Truong whenever she competes.
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Kevin Camacho, CA - 15/16 Boys
The rising junior picked up three wins at last month's regional qualifier and appears to be one of the top contenders in the distance races if he chooses to compete at next month's summer extravaganza.
It was an exciting day for Kevin Camacho in Escondido, winning the 800m, 1,500m, and 3,000m championships, securing his spot in August's AAU Junior Olympic Championships in Des Moines. Coming off a strong sophomore outdoor season, the rising star has since picked up a new personal best in the 3,000m (9:37) and has been undefeated this summer.
In his first high school summer season, Camacho has made a tremendous impact, also winning the three races at the AAU West Coast Championships. You should keep an eye on the Shafter underclassman as he has already gained valuable experience heading into his final two years of competition.
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Amina Zamora, CA - 9 Girls
While it's just her first track & field season on the AAU circuit, Amina Zamora is a name to watch for the remainder of the summer.
She scored two wins at the Region 22 Championships, crossing the line first in the 200m and 400m dashes, while also qualifying for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in the 100m. This summer, she has set impressive personal best times of 14.21 (100m), 28.97 (200m), and 64.14 (400m).
Since the regional meet, Zamora has gone on to win the 400m at the USATF Region 15 meet, where she set her personal best, and left with a pair of top-5 finishes in the two other sprint events. A rising star in the sport of track & field, you won't want to keep your eyes off Zamora if she makes the trip to Drake Stadium this August.
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Michael James Jr, CA - 8 & Under Boys
In his first summer season in the AAU circuit, Michael James Jr has made a name for himself, picking up a win in the 200m dash (30.36) at last month's regional meet, while also qualifying for the summer showcase in the 100m dash.
Most recently, representing Dungeon Athletics, he won the 400m dash at the USATF National Youth Outdoor Championships, running an impressive 65.61. At that meet, he also finished 3rd in the 200m and 4th in the 100m. In the two events he qualified for the summer classic in, the rising star has set personal bests of 14.51 (100m) and 29.96 (200m) and could be a contender to finish on the podium if he makes the trip.
If he were to make the trip to Des Moines next month, James instantly becomes a notable name in the field, and one you will want to keep tabs on throughout the remainder of his track & field career.
Oakdale wasn't the only city hosting an AAU Regional Qualifier in California.
Escondido welcomed athletes from 8 to 18 years of age during the third week of June to compete at the AAU Region 23 Championships in preparation for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa, beginning August 1st through the 8th.
Here are a few athletes you need to keep an eye on as the summer's biggest track & field extravaganza nears.