2026 WIAA 2A Track & Field Season Preview
If you look at the heat sheets for the 2A Boys 1600m and 3200m, you might think you’re seeing double. The top four returners in both events are a near-perfect mirror image of one another, setting the stage for a season-long tactical war.
Leading the way is Anacortes standout Dylan Rowell. Rowell is simply a guy who knows how to win. He doesn't just run fast times; he races, and he seems to possess the uncanny ability to peak at exactly the right moment each May. However, he will have a shadow all season long. Ellensburg’s Mystic Hammond is a mainstay right on Rowell’s heels and will be looking to finally overtake the Anacortes ace. Right behind them sits the dangerous Bellingham duo of Berkley Pass and Baynes Machinski, who hold the third and fourth spots and work well as a pack.
While Rowell has been dominant in the 3200m, expect the 1600m to be a much tighter affair. There is only a 14-second split between the #1 and #10 returning athletes—meaning if the pace lags even a little, the door swings wide open for an upset.
In the 800m, Maverick Ball—another Anacortes standout—looks to bring the championship trophy back to Fidalgo Island. But nothing is guaranteed. Ball will have to fight off Bainbridge Island’s Ignacio Llorens, who finished less than a second behind him last year. That rivalry is far from settled.
Sehome vs. The World
On the girls' side, the narrative is simple: It’s Sehome vs. The World. But Lynden’s Sloan Dickson is ready to shake things up.
Dickson enters the season as the clear favorite in the distance events, fresh off a dominant State Championship victory in cross country. She will have to fend off a "Green and Gold" wave, as Sehome occupies nearly every other top spot. The Mariners' depth chart includes Samantha Knipp, Lil Desler, Sloane Clines, and Kjirsten Ludeman. Come May, Sehome will be looking to turn the distance podium into a team meeting, and Dickson is the primary force standing in their way.
In the 800m, track speedster Kjirsten Ludeman (Sehome) looks to repeat her freshman success by taking home the top spot again. While challengers like Sophia Koch (Bellingham) and Sloan Dickson will look to hang with her, the sophomore has done nothing but get stronger. Ludeman saw action all the way to Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) with the Sehome squad this fall—she has raced the best in the nation, and she fears nothing.
The Dark Horse
Cedarcrest’s Lydia Swenson is my pick to disrupt the hierarchy. She returns ranked #4 in the 800m and #7 in the 1600m. She sits right on the cusp of the elite tier. If she decides to hone in on just one of those distances and specialize, she has the tools to break into the top 3 and spoil the party for the favorites.
Don't Just Spectate.
Participate.
The 2026 season is moving fast. Catch the full breakdown or secure your team's spot on the media schedule today.
