It isn’t easy for an athlete to gain a major honor such as All-American at any track and field event, which makes what Oak Park resident Alaya Lewis-Curtis accomplished in this year’s American Amateur Union Junior Olympics so remarkable. During the event, which was held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 1-8, Lewis-Curtis garnered All-American honors in three events.
Not bad for a 10-year-old who will be attending Brooks Middle School this year (she skipped third grade).
In the 10-year-old division, Lewis-Curtis, running for the Solo Elite Track Club, earned the silver medal in the 800-meter race in a personal-best time of 2:35.97. She also took eighth in both the 400 meters (1:04.58) and the triathlon (personal-best 1,083 points).
“It was a good experience,” Lewis-Curtis told Wednesday Journal. “I hung out with several different athletes from across the country, and they were really experienced and fast.”
Although she got the silver medal in the 800, the 400 is her favorite event. Why?
“I feel like it’s because I’ve been doing it the longest and it’s been my best experience,” she said.
Lewis-Curtis also said that this is her first year running in the 800 and was pleased with her Junior Olympics result in the event. She had a feeling that she would fare well, given her indoor experience.
“I ran it indoor and was number one in the country. I ran a 2:32,” she said.
Lewis-Curtis’ older sister Alana, who got All-American awards in 2023 and 2024, competed in the 13-year-old category in the 400 and the long jump. She finished 38th in the 400 (personal-best 1:01.56) and 34th in the long jump (4.30 meters).
LaNequa Lewis, the mother of Alana and Alaya and head coach of Solo Elite, said Alana has battled injuries this year.
“She has Osgood-Schlatter disease. She has growing pains in her knees. She’s been competing since she was 7, so it’s starting to affect her,” Lewis said.
Osgood-Schlatter is a disease that causes pain and swelling below the knee joint. It’s common in growing adolescents like Alana but usually ends once the growth spurt is complete.
“Alana’s still doing well. She took second in long jump at state for Brooks Middle School and competed in the open 4 x 400 relay and did really well,” Lewis said.
In previous years, Alana and Alaya ran unattached and were coached by their mother. But this year, Lewis decided to form Solo Elite, which qualified 11 athletes for the Junior Olympics, including six from Oak Park.
“We practice at Concordia University (in River Forest),” she said. “A lot of the Oak Park middle school students train with us and run with us during the summer.”
As for Alaya, she’s already looking forward to next year and knows there’s a lot to work on.
“I want to break my PRs, do better, and try harder,” she said.