2026 WIAA 3A Track & Field Season Preview
The 3A field is loaded. While some events look like locks, others are shaping up to be absolute brawls.
Ciana Johnson, the sophomore standout from Ballard, enters the ’26 Track Season as the favorite to defend her 800m title after being crowned the 3A State Champion as a freshman. However, Johnson will have to fight off senior savvy to keep her throne, with Lejla Carlsson (Gig Harbor) and Jane Wykoff (Mt. Spokane) both looking to close the gap.
The Rodriguez Reign
You can’t talk about 3A Girls in Washington—or even the country—without putting Nike Elite athlete Sophia Rodriguez (Jr., Mercer Island) at the top of the list. Rodriguez dominates distance events the same way Dale Earnhardt Sr. dominated the oval. She shows up, and if she has anything better than a mediocre day, she wins.
However, Rodriguez cannot take her eye off the prize heading into 2026, because a serious contender has re-entered the chat. Cassidy Armstrong (Ballard), who missed the 2025 track season, stormed back onto the scene this fall. She finished second at her XC district meet and followed it up with a runner-up finish at the State Championships. Armstrong is an incredible athlete, and sitting out a season has clearly left her hungry. She capped her comeback by finishing 17th in the country at Nike Cross Nationals (NXN), earning All-American honors.
The 3A girls 1600m is shaping up to be a heavyweight fight between Rodriguez, Armstrong, Carlsson, and Johnson. If Armstrong steps up to the 3200m, she is sure to give Sophia legitimate competition—something that was missing last year when Rodriguez won the state title by a staggering 48 seconds. Paige Stewart (Inglemoor) and Abigail Collier (Federal Way) are also sure to be in the mix, with Collier coming off a very strong XC season where she finished 3rd at State and 27th at NXR Northwest.
The Boys' Field
On the boys' side, Mana Voss (Central Kitsap), Henry Herb (Seattle Prep), and Bodie Thomas (Mercer Island) are the three names to watch all season long.
Voss is a powerhouse. After finishing 2nd in the 800m at the 2025 State Championships, he returns as the top seed in the 1600m. He is that rare distance runner who possesses incredible top-end speed, making him dangerous in a tactical race.
Henry Herb (Seattle Prep) is coming off a strong XC season and is looking to turn heads as he enters his junior track campaign. Herb has lived comfortably in the top-10—and often the top-5—in most races, but 2026 is the year he looks to solidify his name at the very top of the ranks.
Then there is Bodie Thomas. The Mercer Island senior had a great 2025 track season, but it was often overshadowed by the historic performance of his teammate, now-Washington Husky Owen Powell. With Powell at the next level, Thomas is now the guy. He finished 3rd at the XC State Championships and 17th at NXR Northwest. He is ready to carve out his own legacy.
The Dark Horse
A name to keep on your radar is Leroy Lozano Mejia. The sophomore out of Hermiston is liable to disrupt the hierarchy this spring. If you followed the XC season, you know Mejia missed winning the state title by merely a stride to Mana Voss. Mejia knows how close he was, and he will enter this season with a lot of confidence—treating every race as a workout towards the state championship, where he hopes to line up against Voss one more time.
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.
