Mayor Honors 12 Aurora Residents for Junior Olympics

Published on September 02, 2026

At Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Mayor John Laesch honored 12 Aurora residents who earned national recognition at the 2026 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games, placing within the top 15 in a number of track and field events.

The competition, which took place in Iowa from August 3 through August 8, featured athletes from both the Aurora Sundowners Track Club and the Aurora Flyers, two organizations that were founded over 35 years ago to provide young Black athletes with opportunities to advance within track and field. The 12 Aurora residents competed among 11,000 total track and field athletes from across the nation at the meet.

Amari Lewis, a 13-year-old phenom from the Aurora Flyers, placed second in the nation in the 200-meter hurdles event, fourth in the 100-meter hurdles event, and sixth in the 200-meter run. Jakoi Ruff, the 12-year-old standout from the Aurora Sundowners Track Club, placed third in the nation in the 100-meter dash and 10th in the 200-meter sprint. Lewis and Ruff’s placements served as some of the highest finishes among the Aurora residents competing in the event and proudly put the City on the map.

Additional athletes who placed in the top 15 include Alexandria Richmond, who finished third in the country in the triple jump, Noah Howard, who placed third in the pentathlon, Harper Hutton, who placed second in the high jump, Brisline Lankah, who placed second in the 400-meter hurdles, Chloe Crimm, who placed seventh in the 800-meter run, Victoria Sanuade, who placed ninth in the 400-meter dash, Sanuade again, along with Rowan Slowinski, Kayla Jackson, and Kaodichimma Ifeajekwu, who placed 11th in the girls’ 4x400-meter relay, and Ari Watson, who placed 15th in the 400-meter dash.

“What an outstanding effort from both the Flyers and Sundowners at the Junior Olympic Games,” Mayor Laesch said. “You represented our City so well and put together such a phenomenal effort at the national level.”

Lewis and Ruff, specifically, have previously been honored by Mayor Laesch for additional track and field achievements. Ruff set the national 11U 60-meter dash record and took home three gold medals at the Amateur Athletic Union Northern National Indoor Track and Field Invitational in December of 2025, while Lewis also earned three gold medals at the same event, plus set the national record for the 12U 200-meter dash.