Zephyrs Track Club

What a week for the Chicagoland Zephyrs at the 2026 AAU Junior Olympics! Our athletes stepped onto one of the biggest stages in youth track and field and came away with six All-American, Top-8 finishes, including top 3 performances, personal bests, and some incredible moves up the national rankings.

🏆 2026 ZEPHYRS ALL-AMERICANS

• Hailey Archer | Girls 14 Pentathlon
5th Place | 2,789 points
Entered ranked 12th and climbed 7 spots to earn All-American honors.

• Alexander Fisher | Boys 12 Discus
🥈 2nd Place | 34.11m (111-11) | PERSONAL BEST
Entered ranked 9th and moved up 7 places to finish as the national runner-up.

• Jonathan SibleyDiggs | Men 17-18 Discus
🥉 3rd Place | 51.78m (169-10)
Entered ranked 3rd and held his position with a podium finish.

• Jonathan SibleyDiggs | Men 17-18 Shot Put
5th Place | 17.06m (55-11.75)
Entered ranked 12th and climbed 7 places to earn his second All-American honor of the week.

• Joseph “Joey” Bockwell | Men 17-18 Shot Put
4th Place | 17.16m (56-03.75)
Joey battled through an ankle injury and still delivered an outstanding performance, finishing 4th in the nation.

• Men’s 17-18 4x400m Relay
🥉 3rd Place | 3:10.66
Edmond Ankomah, Brian Jackson, Nathan Murray and Henry Faber
Entered the meet ranked 42nd and finished 3rd in the nation, an incredible 39-place improvement and a record-breaking way to close out the week!

We could not be more proud of these athletes and every Zephyrs who qualified, competed, supported teammates, and represented our club at the Junior Olympics. The medals and All-American honors are special, but so is the work, commitment and resilience it took just to get there.

Congratulations to our athletes, coaches and families on an incredible 2026 season.

Six All-American performances. Three top three finishes. One unforgettable week.

🧡🖤 Zephyrs STRONG!

What a day at the 22nd Annual Jane Dickens Invitational on 6/20! 🧡

This year’s meet brought together more than 730 athletes representing 25 teams. The performances spoke for themselves:

👟 1,159 personal-best performances

That number reflects the effort, preparation, and competitive spirit that athletes brought to the track, the runway, and the field.

We were also honored to welcome a very special guest this year. Antionette Dickens, Jane Dickens’ great-granddaughter, traveled all the way from Barcelona to celebrate Jane’s legacy with us. Her presence made the day even more meaningful for our community.

A sincere thank you to every athlete, coach, volunteer, official, parent, and team that helped make this meet a success. Jane Dickens’ impact on track and field continues to live on through every athlete who steps to the line, takes the runway, or enters the ring.

Thank you for being part of the legacy. ✨

One Journey. Years in the Making. 🧡🖤
Aaliyah Thurman's journey with Zephyrs began at just 9 years old.

What started as a young athlete learning the fundamentals grew into one of Illinois' top horizontal jumpers through years of consistent training, development, and perseverance.
Along the way, Aaliyah earned All-American honors at age 14, and became a two-time Illinois All-State Long Jumper, and overcame imjuries that would have caused many athletes to walk away from the sport.

Success at the next level doesn't happen overnight. It is built through years of work, resilience, trust in the process, and a commitment to long-term development.

We are proud to have helped guide Aaliyah through the highs and lows, build the foundation for her success, and prepare her for the next chapter at Indiana State University.

This is what long-term athlete development looks like.

Built by the Zephyrs.

Some success stories are years in the making

The photos tell a story that spans more than a decade. From a young athlete taking his first jumps with Zephvrs to standing on top of the Class 3A State Championship podium, this journey reflects what long-term development can accomplish.

Great athletes are not built overnight. They are developed through years of consistent training, patient coaching, family support, resilience through setbacks, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

We are proud of the role Zephyrs has plaved in this athlete's journey, and we are equally grateful for the outstanding coaching and support he received throughout his high school career at Neuqua Valley.

This achievement belongs to the athlete first, but it also reflects the power of a community working together to help young people reach their potential.

Thirteen years of development. One state championship. A lifetime of lessons.

Some success stories are years in the making and they don't always follow a straight line, Zawadi's journey is the ultimate masterclass in long-term athletic development.

Over a decade ago, she started out grinding through the 800M and 400M as a young Zephyr. But when her goals shifted toward the short sprints, our development system shifted with her.
Through patient coaching and consistent training, she unlocked elite, explosive power leading her to Neuqua Valley and ultimately on top of the podium as a Back-to-Back 200M State Champion.

But Zephvrs training doesn't just build track runners it builds world-class athletes. Zawadi translated that foundational, state-championship speed directly onto the lacrosse field, earning a scholarship to play Division I Lacrosse at Vanderbilt University.

The Evolution:
• The Pivot: Shifting from mid-distance to elite short sprints
• The Engine: Building foundational speed and power that translates to any sport
• The Next Level: Youth foundation -> High School Legend - SEC Athlete

When you invest in long-term development and a community that believes in your vision, the results speak for themselves. We are incredibly proud to have laid the foundation for Zawadi's historic career. Eight years of development. One unforgettable journey. Built by the Zephvrs.

Registration for the Zephyrs Track Club Summer Season is now open.

Athletes will train with experienced coaches, compete in regional meets, and develop the speed, strength, and confidence that carries into the next level.

Whether you're new to track or looking to improve your performance, this program is designed to help athletes grow.
Spots fill quickly.

Join the Zephyrs.

Zephyrs Track Club – We're taking the lanes by storm! The Chicagoland Zephyrs Athletic Association is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), youth-oriented, developmental track and field program located in Maywood, Illinois. Youth that are members of the Zephyrs Track Club come from surrounding communities and Chicago.