AAU Junior Olympics weather delay

FloTrack reported that the 2026 AAU Junior Olympic Games went into a weather delay on Wednesday, Aug. 5, interrupting day-five track and field competition in Des Moines, Iowa. The meet is being held at Drake Stadium and runs from Aug. 1 through Aug. 8, according to FloTrack’s event schedule. FloTrack said the competition was expected to resume at 2 p.m. ET on Aug. 5. The delay affected a meet that spans multiple age groups and a full slate of running and field events. ### Where did the delay hit? Des Moines, Iowa, is hosting the 2026 AAU Junior Olympic Games at Drake Stadium, FloTrack’s schedule and event guide say. The meet includes athletes ranging from age 8 through 18 and is one of the largest youth track-and-field competitions in the United States, according to FloTrack. (flotrack.org) Aug. 5 was the fifth day of the Games’ track-and-field program, following multi-events on Aug. 1-2 and the main track-and-field schedule from Aug. 3-8, FloTrack’s coverage says. That meant the delay cut into a competition window that includes championship races, field-event finals and age-group contests across the week. (flotrack.org) ### What exactly did FloTrack say? FloTrack’s news index listed the item as “AAU Junior Olympic Games 2026 In Weather Delay, Expected To Resume At 2 p.m. ET” on Aug. 5. The same coverage page placed the weather delay alongside day-five live results and event updates from the meet. FloTrack did not provide additional detail in the indexed excerpt about the length of the stoppage beyond the posted expected resume time. (flotrack.org) The listing establishes that organizers and meet coverage were updating the status during competition rather than after the day had ended. ### Which athletes and events were caught up in it? FloTrack’s meet guide says the AAU Junior Olympics include complete live coverage of every heat, flight and running event, while its heat-sheet guide says the competition covers sprints, distance races, relays, hurdles, jumps, throws, race walks and multi-events. (flotrack.org) The age divisions listed by FloTrack run from 8-and-under through 17-18. Thousands of athletes were entered in the meet, FloTrack’s heat-sheet coverage says, which is why schedule changes matter beyond a single final or age bracket. A weather stoppage can affect both athletes already on the track and those waiting on revised call times for later sessions. That scheduling impact is reflected in FloTrack’s emphasis on live results, heat sheets and daily updates. (flotrack.org) ### Where were families and coaches supposed to check for updates? FloTrack’s results and guide pages directed readers to FloTrack.com, the FloSports app and FloTrack social channels for live coverage and daily updates. The meet guide also said every heat and field event would be archived for on-demand viewing after competition. (flotrack.org) FloTrack’s heat-sheet page said updated athlete listings and event information were available through its published heat sheets, while its broader meet coverage included schedules, results and streaming access. For families tracking one athlete or multiple events, those pages were the main reference points during the delay. (flotrack.org) ### What comes next in the meet? Aug. 8 is the final day of the 2026 AAU Junior Olympic Games, according to FloTrack’s event page and published schedule. FloTrack said the Games are being streamed through the end of the meet, with results, heat sheets and archived replays remaining available through its coverage hub and app. (flotrack.org 1) (flotrack.org 2)