AAU Junior Olympic Games Preview: The Throws

AAU Junior Olympic Games

Cory Mull

Jul 28, 2023

* Seckman's (MO) Noa Isaia is a strong candidate to claim the 17-18yo discus at the AAU Junior Olympic Games

Photo Credit: Chris Auckley/Missouri MileSplit

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The real action is in the circle and on the runway.

Hands caked with chalk, sweat beading off necks, calloused hands, gargantuan yelps.

You'll find all this and more in the discus, shot put and javelin at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, from the youngest age brackets to the 17-18yo category, which often features the event's top athletes.

But this year, there is versatility across the board. There are returning champions, wide-eyed challengers and a gauntlet of blue-chip athletes vying for national titles.

Below, we've set out to preview the throwing events. We've outlined our best athletes, our can't-miss event, throwbacks and even 1-on-1s you should be watching out for.

Check it all out. But if you want more, check out all of our coverage through our meet page. We'll have race and field archives, interviews, daily recaps, videos and more during meet week.

HOW TO WATCH:

Streaming: You can watch the 2023 AAU Junior Olympic Games LIVE on FloTrack. MileSplit subscribers will need to upgrade to the Universal plan to access the livestream.

Watch Live Link

On Your TV: Now available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV.

Cast: Cast to your smart TV, including Vizio, Samsung and LG TVs.

On The Go: Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android

ARCHIVED FOOTAGE:

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for both MileSplit and FloSports subscribers to watch fro the duration of their subscription.

FIVE ATHLETES TO WATCH

Updated Performance Lists

J'Nia Simpson, Tampa Catholic (FL), Class of 2026, 15-16yo: Simpson has clear objectives in mind. She's the top seed in both the shot put and the discus, which means she could leave AAU with a coveted throws double. On top of that, she's also entered in the javelin. A busy weekend won't dismay Simpson. She owns personal best marks of 143-3 in the discus and 49-1 in the shot put, which should position her for two big efforts in the circle.

Andy Tunstall, Hallsville (TX), Class of 2024, 17-18yo: Improvement has been the name of the game for Tunstall, who has seen his personal best mark over the 2023 season grow dramatically from 144 feet to 178 feet, 1 inch. With the AAU Junior Olympic Games in front of him, and the number 180 squarely within his grasp, Tunstall could now walk home with a title, too.

Brielle Hudson, New York Starz TC(NY), Class of 2030, 11yo: The young talent is positioning herself for the rare throws trifecta, as she's entered in the shot put, discus and the javelin. But there's good reason to think she'll be successful in her quest. Just last year, Hudson claimed three wins across a variety events, earning AAU titles in the high jump, shot put and turbo javelin.

Chase Crawford, Cahokia (IL), Class of 2023, 17-18yo: He finished his high school career as a Class 2A state champion in Illinois and did so with a career best mark, heaving a final throw of 63 feet, 3 inches. But Crawford also doubled in the discus, where he finished fifth at the same meet. He owns top marks of 63-3 and 168-2 in those two events. He enters as the Games' top 17-18yo seed in the shot put and the eighth-best in the discus.

Sophia Scott, Omaha Burke (NE), Class of 2025, 15-16yo: Scott has emerged as one of the leading javelin throwers in the country over the 2023 season, and she's only a sophomore. In June, she secured a runner-up finish in the event at Nike Outdoor Nationals and then followed with a career best mark of 167-6.25 at an event in Liberty, Missouri. That performance was a sophomore No. 1 and the sixth-best throw in the class' history. She's the top seed in the 15-16yo javelin throw.

TOP EVENT TO WATCH

For our money, it's the boys 17-18yo discus.

For one, this event might feature one of the better matchups in the throws circle (see more below) between Missouri state champion Noa Isaia (above) and rising Texas talent Andy Tunstall.

But on another level, this event could also net a rather elusive throw for Isaia, who will be throwing in his last high school competition before he enrolls at Arkansas State.

Isaia is just seven feet shy of the 200 foot mark. His personal best of 59.23m (194-4) came in May at the Missouri state championships. These high stakes moments often elicit some bigger throws, especially with national titles on the line. For reference, Missouri City's (TX) Gabriel Oladipo last scored a national record in this age bracket back in 2017, pumping in a throw of 210-4.

Here's to hoping Isaia hits 200 feet.

AN AAU THROWBACK

Olympian Christian Cantwell discussed what it was like to see his son compete at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa

It was an interesting view for Olympian Christian Cantwell in 2018.

Five years ago, Christian saw his son, Jackson, claim an AAU Junior Olympic Games title in the 10-year-old shot put with a mark of 38 feet, 11 inches.

Christian won a World Championship in the shot put in 2009 and was a silver medalist at the Olympic Games in 2008. He also won three World indoor titles over his career.

"Ever since he was been born, he's been out on the track," Christian said. "A lot of what he does comes naturally."

But the competition showed Christian -- and also his wife, Teri, who was an NCAA champion shot put thrower -- what the opportunity would mean for his son in the future.

"I like to see that he shows up every day and puts the work in and then it pays off. Because I think that teaches better life lessons," Christian said. "Is being there every day, seeing how hard it is, seeing how many throws he takes, all the work he takes, I know it's tough, I know it's hard, I know it gets old to hear things from dad. But to do all that and come back every single day and have it pay off, that's really cool."

Five years later, Jackson is one of the top shot put throwers in the country. As a freshman at Nixa High School, he was the 18th-best shot put thrower in the entire country with a mark of 64 feet, 3.75 inches. He was also the 31st-best discus thrower with a mark of 191-4.25.

Both marks led the freshman class. His shot put and discus were also the second-best marks in class history

NATIONAL RECORDS

All-Time AAU National Records

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Shot Put

Implement Sizes:

Boys-Girls 8yo -- 4lbs; Boys-Girls 9-12yo -- 6lbs; Girls 13-14yo -- 6lbs; Boys 13-14yo -- 4kg; Girls 15-18 -- 4kg; Boys 15-18 -- 12lbs

8yo Girls -- Laila Jones, Clemmons, NC, 28-5.75, 2018; 8yo Boys -- Dylan Carter, Alcoa, TN, 34-10, 2010; 9yo Girls -- Nia Lyles, St. Louis, MO, 30-1.5, 2010; 9yo Boys -- Jon Allen, College Station, TX, 37-1.5, 2002; 10yo Girls -- Shanell Atkins, Pembrook Pines, FL, 34-0, 2008; 10yo Boys -- Jon Allen, College Station, TX, 42-4, 2003; 11yo Girls -- Zoe Burleson, Rock Springs, TX, 40-5.75, 2013; 11yo Boys -- Dylan Carter, Maryville, TN, 48-11.25, 2013; 12yo Girls -- Tami Keitner, Ft. Yates, ND, 47-3, 1982; 12yo Boys -- Jackson Cantwell, Nixa, MO, 56-7.5, 2020; 13yo Girls -- Carlie Weiser, Giddings, TX, 50-2.5, 2018; 13yo Boys -- Jackson Cantwell, Nixa, MO, 57-11, 2021; 14yo Girls -- Meia Gordon, Houston, TX, 52-8.25, 2012; 14yo Boys -- Arnold Campbell, Shreveport, LA, 60-5, 1980; 15-16yo Girls -- Ashlie Blake, Las Vegas, NV, 52-1, 2012; 15-16yo Boys -- Bryce Foster, Katy, TX, 64-0.5, 2018; 17-18yo Girls -- Emily Vannoy, Frederick, MO, 47-7, 2008; 17-18yo Boys -- Gabriel Oladipo, Missouri City, TX, 73-8.75, 2017.

Discus

Implement Sizes:

Boys-Girls 11-14yo -- 1kg; Girls 15-16yo -- 1kg; Boys 15-18yo -- 1.6kg

11yo Girls -- Brittany Mann, Neverly Hills, MI, 100-4, 2005; 11yo Boys -- Larry Minner, St. Louis, MO, 108-11, 2015; 12yo Girls -- Amy Bilmanis, Hughesville, MD, 121-0, 1999; 12yo Boys -- Zechariah Blake, Metairie, LA, 137-6, 2013; 13yo Girls -- Zoe Burleson, Rock Springs, TX, 138-10, 2015; 13yo Boys -- Jackson Cantwell, Columbia, MO, 177-6, 2021; 14yo Girls -- Faith Bender, Bakersfield, CA, 141-1, 2016; 14yo Boys -- Bryan Hudson, Williamstown, KY, 198-4, 2015; 15-16yo Girls -- Chamaya Turner, Garden Ridge, TX, 163-11, 2011; 15-16yo Boys -- Brian Milne, Union City, PA, 196-11, 1989; 17-18yo Girls -- Chrystal Herpin, Houston, TX, 177-6, 2021; 17-18yo Boys -- Gabriel Oladipo, Missouri City, TX, 210-4, 2017.

Javelin

Implement Sizes:

Boys-Girls 8yo Turbo Jav -- 300g; Boys-Girls 9-12yo Turbo Jav -- 400g; Boys-Girls 13-4yo -- 600g; Girls 15-18yo -- 600g; Boys 15-18yo -- 800g

8yo Girls -- Jordyn Hampton, Acworth, GA, 78-4, 2022; 8yo Boys -- Bryan Drayton, Clearwater, FL, 98-4, 2022; 9yo Girls -- Aubree Dunigan, Olathe, KS, 95-0, 2022; 9yo Boys -- Adonis Dunnigan, Manhattan, KS, 94-7, 2019; 10yo Girls -- Brielle Hudson, Cornwall, NY, 99-2, 2022; 10yo Boys -- Luke Schuller, Easley, SC, 111-5, 2015; 11yo Girls -- Sarah Marvin, Gaines, MI, 104-0, 2014; 11yo Boys -- Isaish Stephens, Emporia, VA, 138-3, 2015; 12yo Girls -- Sarah Marvin, Gaines, MI, 122-11, 2015; 12yo Boys -- Sam Hankins, Olsburg, KS, 140-11, 2013; 13yo Girls -- Zaybree Haury, San Diego, CA, 124-0, 2008; 13yo Boys -- Noble Williams/Henry Martin, Boyce, LA, 153-11, 2022/Leawood, KS, 153-11, 2017; 14yo Girls -- Sydney Juszczyk, Florissant, MO, 140-4, 2017; 14yo Boys -- Charles Schob, Fresno, CA, 184-6, 2002; 15-16yo Girls -- Skylar Ciccolini, Lewistown, PA, 155-7, 2017; 15-16yo Boys -- Johannes Swanepoel, Overland Park, KS, 187-2, 2007; 17-18yo Girls -- Avione Allgood, Las Vegas, NV, 158-4, 2011; 17-18yo Boys -- Tzuriel Pedigo, Baton Rouge, LA, 229-4.