The Story of Lanese: With Camas' Throne Empty, Olympia's Sophomore Runs Into 2026 as the Guy to Beat
Quenton Lanese on the ground after Nike Cross Regionals Northwest - the price of racing against the best in the region.
Cross Country and Track & Field are not the same. They can be used as a gauge to predict times before a season starts, but some kids prefer one over the other. A kid who loves xc may run slower times on the track, and vice versa.
The rare desire to just win can override both of these.
Quenton Lanese is that rare instance where winning is the goal - full stop. He gets there by chasing something else - break a record, beat a rival's time, reset his own personal best, etc.
A hug from his dad, Chris, after the race at Mile City - the moment behind the headlines.
He has built a reputation since he was a small child by breaking records and filling the trophy case with awards and ribbons. The same way he wins on the track he dominates headlines online.
The only runner who stood between him and a state title was Camas' Cohen Butler, now at the University of Washington. The two sparred across both xc and track last year - it was fun to watch. Butler edged him both times, but the youngster pressed him to put on the performance of his life each time.
Mud-caked and shirtless, Quenton Lanese pushes through the final stretch at the 2025 Ultimook Invitational in Tillamook, Oregon - one of the toughest courses on the circuit.
Quenton Lanese races to a runner-up finish in the boys 4A race at the 2025 WIAA State Cross Country Championships - as a freshman.
As the temperature drops and xc teams begin practice, all eyes will be on the sophomore. His reach goes far beyond the local running community - Lanese set freshman national records last year. Not only will other athletes and teams be following him, you can bet that scouts are going to watch to see how he adapts to being - "The Guy."
Quenton Lanese at the line before his race at the Brooks PR Invitational, one of the premier track meets in the country.
If history is any indication, Lanese will show up the same way he always does - as a smart runner who keeps his head down. If you didn't know him, you would assume he was just another one of the Olympia Bears. He runs confidently under pressure, sticks around to support his teammates, and is the real deal.
Maybe that's Lanese's superpower - he brings out the best in everyone. If he isn't leading you, he will push you, and it goes both ways. He runs with intent and has a gameplan going into each race. He will blast off the line to get to the front of the pack so as not to get trapped between a bunch of runners, but he also runs well from behind - working his way up through the pack as the race goes on.
Quenton Lanese and his Olympia Bears teammates celebrate after their relay at the Mt Tahoma Track Festival.
Quenton Lanese races at the Mt Tahoma Track Festival, one of several tune-up meets on his track schedule.
Lanese will begin his sophomore campaign at the Olympia XC Classic at LBA Park. Last year, he snagged the #3 spot on the course records list with a time of 10:05.6 (two-mile). Securing the course record to kick off the season is well within his capabilities.
The following weekend, he will square off in a much more challenging affair at Fort Steilacoom. With over [XX] teams on hand, he will have much stiffer competition lining up against him.
Fort Steilacoom Field · 2026 Preview
Top competitors, by season-best 5K
Race Log · Athletic.net
Quenton Lanese — 2025–2026 Progression
Distance events, 1 mile and up · freshman XC through sophomore track · Sep 2025–Jun 2026
↓ lower = faster · red dot = current PB in this event · "h" = hand-timed
Current PB
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First Since 2025
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Drop Since 2025
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Races Logged
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