Day 1 of the 2026 AAU Junior Olympics has concluded, and California athletes are already claiming national titles and personal records. The Junior Olympics are streaming LIVE on FloTrack/Milesplit from August 1st to 8th. Below, read about the standout performances by Californians at AAU.
Girls Performances
Event: Girls 1500m Race Walk (10 Years Old) - 8:50.12 - 2nd Place
Hariharasudhan became California's first medalist of the meet by clocking 8:50.12, one of only two athletes in the field to break the 9-minute barrier. Her runner-up finish earned national silver in the highly competitive 10-year-old division.
McKenna Sallis, Southern California Mustangs
Event: Girls 1500m Race Walk (11 Years Old) - 9:29.31 - 4th Place
Sallis lowered her lifetime best to 9:29.31, breaking the 9:30 barrier for the first time to finish fourth nationally. The performance placed her just outside the medals while continuing an impressive season of improvement.
Event: Girls 1500m Race Walk (9 Years Old) - 10:18.46 - 3rd Place
Jayakumar battled to a fourth-place national finish with a strong 10:18.46 effort, finishing less than 15 seconds from the winner. Her performance added another top-four result for Mission Valley T&F on the opening day.
Hassani Ashwin, Mission Valley T&F
Event: Girls 1500m Race Walk (10 Years Old) - 9:59.72 - 3rd Place
Ashwin broke the 10-minute barrier for the first time, stopping the clock at 9:59.72 to earn national bronze. She joined teammate Hasini Hariharasudhan on the podium as Mission Valley placed two athletes in the top three.
Event: Girls 1500m Race Walk (10 Years Old) - 10:45.30 - 5th Place
Marfatia rounded out a dominant showing for Mission Valley by running a personal best of 10:45.30 to finish fifth nationally. The club placed three athletes inside the top five of the 10-year-old race walk.
Boys Performances
Event: Boys 1500m Race Walk (9 Years Old) - 9:02.63 - National Champion
Madhan dominated the 9-year-old field from start to finish, winning the national title in 9:02.63. His margin of victory exceeded 35 seconds, making it one of the most decisive wins of the opening day.
Event: Boys 1500m Race Walk (9 Years Old) - 11:08.34 - 4th place
Arunsankar added another national medal for Mission Valley, placing fourth in 11:08.34. His finish gave the club two athletes inside the top four of the boys 9-year-old race walk.
Event: Boys 1500m Race Walk (9 Years Old) - 11:19.59 - 5th place
Representing God Speed TC, Greene rounded out California's top-five finishers in the boys 9-year-old race walk with an 11:19.59 performance. His result helped California place three athletes inside the national top five.
