Breaking Barriers: Record-Shattering Performances at the 2026 Brooks PR Invitational
13-year-old Angelina Alder shatters the Junior Mile age-group World Record in 4:38.25.
Once a year, the fastest high school and middle school athletes in North America descend upon Renton Memorial Stadium for the Brooks PR Invitational. While last year saw sweltering triple-digit heat, the 2026 edition provided a perfect Pacific Northwest backdrop—cool, overcast skies that set the stage for a non-stop barrage of elite heats.
For fans in Washington and Oregon, this wasn’t just a national showcase; it was a local coronation for the next generation of PNW legends.
Chiara Dailey celebrates her 9:49.57 personal best to win the Girls 2 Mile.
The Rowell Roar: Anacortes Standout Breaks the 4-Minute Barrier
An exhausted Dylan Rowell hits the track after his herculean sub-4-minute performance.
The highlight of the afternoon was undoubtedly the Boys Elite Mile. Dylan Rowell of Anacortes, WA, entered the race fresh off a triple-crown performance (800m, 1600m, 3200m) at the WIAA State Championships.
The race was a tactical masterclass. Marcelo Mantecon (Miami, FL) acted as the rabbit, pushing a blistering pace for the first two laps. As the crowd’s roar reached a fever pitch, Rowell seized the lead. In a heart-stopping finish, Rowell dived across the line to clock a 3:59.93 PB, becoming the latest high schooler to dip under the coveted 4-minute barrier. It was a poetic conclusion to a historic high school career before he heads to Gonzaga.
The Record-Breakers: Sheppard and Jones Rewrite history
Paige Sheppard executes a lethal sprint finish to defend her 800m crown in record time.
The meet records weren't just challenged—they were demolished.
Paige Sheppard (Scotch Plains, NJ): Returning to defend her crown, Sheppard bettered her own 2025 meet record in the 800m, stopping the clock at a stunning 2:00.65 PB.
Andrew Jones (Spring, TX): In the 110m Hurdles, Jones set a new championship standard of 13.14a, eclipsing the previous record of 13.29.
Local Legends: Washington and Oregon Dominance
Quenton Lanese and Jude Ritzenhein launch off the line at the start of the Freshman Mile.
The Pacific Northwest proved it is the epicenter of elite distance and sprint talent:
Washington Standouts:
Quenton Lanese (Olympia, WA): Lanese dominated the Freshman Mile from the gun, taking a wire-to-wire victory in 4:10.59 PB.
Mana Voss (Silverdale, WA): The Central Kitsap star went toe-to-toe with PA’s Carter Smith in the 800m, finishing a close second in 1:49.47 PB and cementing his status as a national contender.
Sutton Flint (Renton, WA): The local favorite represented the host city well, placing 5th in the 100m (10.72a) and 4th in the 110m Hurdles (13.45a).
Oregon Elite:
Evangeline Johnson (Eugene, OR): In a photo finish, Johnson took the Girls Freshman Mile title in 4:41.41 PB, edging out her competition by a mere 0.19 seconds.
Sophia Castaneda (Newberg, OR): Castaneda secured a podium spot in the Elite 400m, placing 3rd with a time of 53.09a.
Yosuke Shibata (Eugene, OR): Shibata finished strong in a loaded Elite Mile field, clocking 4:06.59 PB.
Central Kitsap's Mana Voss pushes the outside lane to challenge for the lead in the Boys 800m.
The Next Generation: Junior Stars Steal the Show
The Middle School division featured a "once-in-a-generation" performance by Angelina Alder. The 13-year-old shattered the Junior Mile record with a 4:38.25 PB—a time so fast it would have contended for the win in the High School Elite heat. On the boys' side, Samuel Radtke also reset the record books, winning the Junior Mile in 4:18.62 PB.
WA Pride: The 4x800 Relays
A unique Brooks PR tradition is the Washington-only 4x800m relays, giving local squads a chance to battle for state bragging rights.
Girls:Sehome took the victory (8:56.58a), fueled by a dominant final two laps from sophomore sensation Kristen Ludeman.
Boys:Stadium High School claimed the gold in 7:43.63a, holding off Mead and Cedar Park Christian in a thriller.
Seattle Prep aggressively takes the front of the pack after lap one of the WA 4x800m.
The pack heads to the track before the start of the WA Boys 4x800m relay.
