AAU & USATF Junior Olympic Nationals - What to do?

There are two governing bodies that offer Junior Olympics Cross-Country National Meets - USATF and AAU. In both USATF and AAU, there are a series of meets called Junior Olympics, where any runner may participate in the first meet called Associations. To advance to the second meet, Regionals, runners must finish in the top-35 individually or on a team that finishes in the top-5. To qualify from Regionals to Nationals, individuals must finish in the top-30, or on a top-5 finishing team. With all of this said, USATF is the only organization that offers qualifying rounds (Associations and Regionals) to west coast teams, where as AAU does not offer qualifying rounds on the west coast because AAU is mostly an east coast organization.

In past years, Whisper has adhered to the USATF series of meets. However, in 2024, the team participated in USATF Associations and Regionals, and foreseeing the difficulty of qualifying the majority of the team for USATF Nationals, opted to race AAU Nationals, regardless of the USATF Regionals outcome.

So here we are again, trying to forecast the development of our current team, while simultaneously predicting the talent of the other ~15-20 team rosters throughout the PNW Region, to make a best-fit determination on attending AAU XC JO Nationals on Saturday, December 6, or attending USATF XC JO Nationals on Saturday, December 13, or both.

On the one hand, punching ones ticket to Nationals through the gauntlet of PNW talent makes the Nationals trip a bit more special, over getting a free pass to AAU XC JO Nationals where the only thing in our way is the $60 registration (and transportation, lodging, etc.). On the other hand, if the team makes arrangements to participate in AAU XC JO Nationals and we do not qualify for the USATF XC JO National meet, we still get to compete on a national stage (at AAU), just not THE stage, and the kids are guaranteed to race (AAU) Nationals with their friends (in Knoxville, TN).

The USATF circuit is competitive, nerve-wracking, and fun! It’s the epitome of championship level competition. Working tirelessly, month after month, testing iron levels to ensure optimal health, committing to all the parts of being a comprehensive runner, putting everything on the line, going all-in for a chance to race the top teams in the nation - it’s exhilarating one moment, and heart-breaking the next.

I am all in on the kids and their efforts to race in Shelbyville, IN. Aside from the plane ticket, my bags are packed. However, I am also committed to those who wish to race AAU JO XC Nationals in Knoxville, TN, on Saturday, December 6. My plan is to fly to Knoxville on Thursday, December 4, and tour central part of the United States between AAU Nationals and USATF Nationals.

The choice to participate in a meet (or meets) that includes flight, lodging, and more, particularly around the holidays, is a family decision. Feel absolutely no guilt if the trip is not in the 2025 family budget. However, at the age of 22, my daughter still asks to hang out with me, and whether it’s at her place in Bend, or running a half marathon with her on September 7 in Disneyland, if she doesn’t mind hanging out with me, I’ll take it!

Money comes and goes. Time goes.

The choice is up to you! All-in for Knoxville? Shelbyville? Both?

We have a month until our first meet, then a long season ahead, providing sufficient time to make a best-fit family (and team) decision. In the meantime, please reach out to me if you have any questions.

Thanks for reading!