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The AAU Junior Olympic Games has a rich history, with the first Track & Field Games being held in 1967 in Washington, D.C. Since then, hundreds of thousands of youth athletes have competed in the Jr. Olympic meets held across the country. Notable professional athletes and Olympians started their careers at AAU, including Brandon Miller, Tamari Davis, Grant Holloway, and Athing Mu.
Over the last 59 years, dozens of records have come and gone, but some have withstood the test of time.
Here are the top 10 longest-standing AAU Jr. Olympics Track & Field records.
#1: John Hinton - Men's 1500 Meter Run, 17–18 Years Old
Hometown: Danville, VA
Record: 3:51.4h
Year Set: 1980
Years Standing: 46
John Hinton went on to compete for the University of Virginia, where he earned All-American honors in the 1500m. After college, he continued competing as a Master’s’ runner and has set multiple age-group world records in the event.
#2: Arnold Campbell - Boys Shot Put, 14 Years Old
Hometown: Shreveport, LA
Record: 60-05.00
Year Set: 1980
Years Standing: 46
Arnold Campbell’s dominance in the shot put continued beyond his AAU record, as he later set national age group records at 15 and 16 years old, surpassing 70 feet as a high school junior. He went on to compete collegiately, placing 5th at NCAAs as a freshman.
#3: Susan Lind - Women’s High Jump, 17-18 Years Old
Hometown: Albion, NE
Record: 6-00.00
Year Set: 1980
Years Standing: 46
Susan Lind made history in her high school career, becoming the first athlete in Nebraska to win a state title in the same event all four years. After high school, she competed for the University of Nebraska and was a member of the 1982 NCAA women’s national championship team.
#4: Denise Marini - Women's 3000 Meter Run, 17–18 Years Old
Hometown: Wilmington, DE
Record: 9:39.7h
Year Set: 1980
Years Standing: 46
Denise Marini was a seven-time Delaware high school state champion before continuing her career at the University of Florida and James Madison University. Her college accolades include being a two-time cross country national qualifier and an ECAC champion.
#5: Tami Keitner - Girls Shot Put, 12 Years Old
Hometown: Ft. Yates, ND
Record: 47-03.00
Year Set: 1982
Years Standing: 44
#6: Tom Kringstad - Men's 3000 Meter Run, 17–18 Years Old
Hometown: Bismarck, ND
Record: 8:19.2h
Year Set: 1982
Years Standing: 44
Kringstad was already one of North Dakota’s top distance runners before setting the AAU record, winning the 1981 North Dakota Class A cross country title. The following year, he also recorded two runner-up finishes in the 1600m and 3200m at the state track championships.
#7: Steven Henson - Boys Decathlon, 15-16 Years Old
Hometown: McPherson, KS
Record: 6844
Year Set: 1984
Years Standing: 42
Steven Henson competed in both track and field and basketball at Kansas State. Primarily focusing on basketball, he became the first player in school history to play in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments. He later played eight seasons in the NBA with five different franchises.
#8: Karlene Erickson - Girls 3000 Meter Run, 15–16 Years Old
Hometown: Erickson, NE
Record: 9:40.4h
Year Set: 1984
Years Standing: 42
Karlene Erickson established herself as one of the top young distance runners of her time, running her first marathon at just 13 years old. In high school, she won the 3200m state title all four years. She impressively qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials the same year she set her AAU record. She later competed for the Nebraska Huskers and has since continued a successful marathon career.
#9: Bryan Delsite - Boys Triple Jump, 15–16 Years Old
Hometown: Elysburg, PA
Record: 49-09.50
Year Set: 1987
Years Standing: 39
Bryan Delsite had a standout collegiate career at Syracuse University, winning three consecutive Big East triple jump titles and two titles in the long jump. After graduation, he transitioned to coaching and has worked for Duquesne, Bucknell, and Robert Morris University.
#10: Travis Schmidt - Boys High Jump, 10 Years Old
Hometown: Goessell, KS
Record: 5-00.00
Year Set: 1987
Years Standing: 39
After a successful youth career in AAU, Travis Schmidt continued to excel in high school. He was the 1A state champion as a freshman, runner-up as a sophomore and junior, and fourth as a senior. He was also a 4-year varsity basketball player.
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