The Season Was Over. A Cross Country Reflection Before the 2026 Season Begins
I loaded my gear in the parking lot, scanning the rows of cars — athletes gathering their bags, parents hauling their own necessities, everyone piling into vehicles one by one. A stream of runners filed onto a bus in the lot next door. I shut the door, and the silence hit me.
The season was over.
There would be regional and national cross country races in the coming weeks, but nothing compares to watching an across-town kid run the race of their life.
The four-hour drive home left me reliving moments from the season, my mind circling back to the same course I'd just left.
Miro Parr-Coffin, Quenton Lanese, Stejer Franklin, and Kian Compton leading the charge.
Camas' senior Cohen Butler won the boys 4A race. Behind him were a pair of then-freshmen — Olympia's Quenton Lanese (2nd) and Gonzaga Prep's Miro Parr-Coffin (5th) — both delivering days they'll remember for years. Four underclassmen in that top 10 alone, a preview of what's coming.
The Returners: 2025 Top Finishers
| Athlete | School | 2025 Time |
|---|---|---|
| Quenton Lanese | Olympia | 15:05.40 |
| Kian Compton | Eisenhower | 15:15.90 |
| Miro Parr-Coffin | Gonzaga Prep | 15:16.30 |
| Stejer Franklin | Mead | 15:19.30 |
A tight battle down the stretch between Mana Voss (Central Kitsap) and Leroy Mejia (Hermiston).
Mana Voss (Central Kitsap) taking the victory in Pasco.
Hermiston's Leroy Lozano Mejia and Central Kitsap's Mana Voss turned in the race of the day — 1.20 seconds separated them at the line. Watching them fight for position over the final 100m sent my heart racing, Voss finally pulling away in the last strides.
Oliver Zimmerman (Cedar Park Christian) pushing through the Pasco course.
Oliver Zimmerman (Cedar Park Christian) won the 1A boys race easily. Dylan Rowell (Anacortes) dominated the 2A race. Waylon Stoneburg-Schafer (Cle Elum-Roslyn) won the 2B boys race by nearly 19 seconds and will return as a junior.
Kevin Hu (Pope John Paul II) celebrating a strong finish at state.
Ruby Henry (Pope John Paul II) racing to the finish at the state championships in Pasco.
In the 1B boys race, Pope John Paul II's Kevin Hu did exactly what he seems to always do — win. The PJP boys brought home the state championship trophy. Their girls finished 3rd in the 1B/2B girls race, with front-runner Ruby Henry having an off day by her standards. Expect her to close out her senior season strong.
Sloan Clines (Sehome) tackling the course at Sun Willows.
Sehome wasn't seriously challenged in the girls 2A race, winning handsomely. South Whidbey's Reed Atwood, who returns as a junior in 2026, doubled back a week later to run 17:39.70 at Nike Cross Regionals (NXR).
Reed Atwood (South Whidbey) crossing the finish line in Pasco.
Ballard's Cassidy Armstrong made her return to racing at the last moment of the season, but couldn't quite match Mercer Island's Sophia Rodriguez, who won.
Sophia Rodriguez (Mercer Island) after leaving it all on the course.
Olympia's Leah Hennen locked in during her state championship race.
The story that stuck with me most: the Olympia High School Bears girls team. They finished second in the state with two seniors, one junior, and four freshmen. The battle between the Bears and Issaquah is one to watch heading into 2026.
More Than Second Place
The story that stuck with me most: the Olympia High School Bears girls team. They finished second in the state with two seniors, one junior, and four freshmen. The battle between the Bears and Issaquah is one to watch heading into 2026.
Read the Full Story →The 2026 cross country season kicks off soon, and I'm already reaching out to race directors, coaches, and athletes.
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Access full high-resolution digital image galleries from the WIAA State Cross Country Championships, view regional distance rankings, or explore comprehensive athlete profiles.
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