2026 WIAA 4A Track & Field Season Preview
A preview of the 2026 WIAA Track and Field season began unfolding before the cross-country spikes were even put away.
Headlining the boys’ side is Cohen Butler, the returning 4A State Champion in the 3200m and the newly crowned ’25 4A XC State Champion. The Camas senior recently signed with the Washington Huskies, opting to stay close to home for his college career. While Butler has all but cemented his legacy of dominance, there is still work to be done; last season, he narrowly missed the 1600m crown, and that elusive double title will likely be his target.
However, Butler won’t cruise to any victories this spring. He will have to fend off Isaac Benjamin, the Brooks NIL-sponsored senior out of South Kitsap. Benjamin technically holds the top seed in the 3200m after clocking a blistering 8:52.79 at Arcadia last year, setting the stage for a heavyweight clash.
On the underclassman side, Quenton Lanese from Olympia is the name to watch. Lanese arrived from middle school with a decorated resume and immediately made a splash, finishing second at the 4A XC State Championships. He looks poised to translate that endurance to the track. The Bears also feature senior standout Caden Durocher, who is out for blood in his final campaign. After a resurgent 2025 XC season, Durocher has everything to gain and nothing to lose.
In the middle distances, Amin Fidaar (Rogers) returns as the frontrunner in the 4A boys 800m, with Kian Compton (Eisenhower) and Durocher (Olympia) right on his heels. Fidaar’s cross-country season ended on a high note: 3rd at leagues, 4th at districts, and 17th at state. He capped off his fall by winning the Open Division at NXR Northwest. His upward trajectory is impossible to ignore, making him one of the most exciting athletes to watch this spring.
Jonah Wiser of Mead enters the season hungry for redemption. Mead had a heartbreaking end to their fall, missing a team berth to NXN (Nike Cross Nationals) by a single point and then being overlooked for an at-large bid. Expect Wiser to channel that frustration into his racing. Meanwhile, Oskar Koontz of Stadium High School is sure to be in the mix up front, entering the season ranked #3 in the 4A Boys 3200m.
Switching gears to the girls’ side, Olympia’s Sydney Kosa enters the season as the top 4A returner in the 800m and 1600m following a phenomenal 2025 track campaign. Kosa is backed by a host of talented teammates—Leah Hennen (Fr.), Gemma Stevick (Fr.), Carolina Schilter (Jr.), and Eliza Johnson (Fr.)—who have all proven they are ready for the big stage.
Eastlake’s Aubrey Wilems looks to maintain her momentum after securing the 4A Girls XC State Championship in November. Wilems enters the spring ranked #2 for 4A girls in the 800m and #3 in the 1600m.
Finally, Bonney Lake’s Latham West looks to round out an incredible career for the Panthers. She returns as the #2 ranked 4A girl in the 1600m and #1 in the 3200m. West had a disappointing finish to her XC career, falling just short of a state title, and will undoubtedly be focused and dangerous entering the track season.
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