Capture the Legend: High-Voltage Distance Showdowns at the 2026 South Sound Classic
Stepping through the front gates of Sparks Stadium, the voltage was already palpable. Parents filed through the gates, food trucks were firing up, and the infield was a shifting sea of athletes in warmups, dialing in their pre-race protocols. Rounding the corner to access the turf, I was greeted by grandstands that were already heavily populated. Arriving an hour early to establish my sightlines and assemble my gear, I hadn't expected this level of electricity so soon. But this was my first South Sound Classic Invitational, and the standard was about to be set.
I’ve known Race Director Bob Frey (Emerald Ridge) for a couple of years, and his operations are always elite. The South Sound Classic is a two-day event. Friday offers a proving ground for athletes fighting to hit the rigorous Saturday invitational standards. Last year, I only covered the Friday night races, relegated to watching the Saturday fireworks on the social feeds. Not this year.
The day initiated with the early heats of the 1600M and 3200M. It was time to get to work.
Emerald Ridge track coach and race director Bob Frey monitors the South Sound Classic Invitational at Sparks Stadium while wearing a communications headset and black athletic gear. The image features a shallow depth of field and bright afternoon lighting characteristic of Olympia sports photography. Commercial sports and editorial photography engineered by Russell Moore Photography in Olympia, WA.
The 1600M: New Standards and Shattered Records
Boys 1600M: Rogers’ Amin Fidaar Sets the Pace The boys' 1600M delivered high-contrast entertainment from the gun. Rogers’ senior standout Amin Fidaar took point immediately, leaving zero margin for error. Fidaar was locked in a relentless battle with Olympia’s Caden Durocher (senior) and freshman phenom Quenton Lanese all the way to the tape. The pace was punishing—the top six athletes all shattered the previous meet record, establishing a staggering new benchmark of 4:09.38. Rounding out this historic lead pack were Seattle Prep’s Henry Herb (4:11.47), Battle Ground’s Lord King Nana-Badu-Weah (4:11.75), and Eisenhower’s Kian Compton (4:11.77), with every single one of them locking in new personal records.
Amin Fidaar of Rogers High School leads the 1600m pack during the South Sound Classic Invitational at Sparks Stadium. The runner is captured on a red synthetic track with a shallow depth of field against a blurred treeline. This professional athletic coverage serves South Sound high school sports departments and editorial outlets. Commercial sports and editorial photography engineered by Russell Moore Photography in Olympia, WA.
Girls 1600M: Eastlake’s Aubrey Wilems Tops the Ranks On the girls' side, Eastlake sophomore Aubrey Wilems executed a flawless race, stopping the clock with a PR and a new meet record of 4:49.76. Bonney Lake senior Latham West was hot on her heels, also securing a personal record at 4:51.01. The top five was rounded out by a trio of elite performances: freshman Callie Orcutt of West Valley (5:01.61), Seattle Prep sophomore Elise Corr (5:06.52), and Camas junior Kate Westfall (5:07.37 PR).
Aubrey Wilems of Eastlake High School wins the girls 1600m race under bright midday sunlight at the South Sound Classic Invitational. This track and field action at Sparks Stadium provides editorial content for South Sound sports photography clients. Commercial sports and editorial photography engineered by Russell Moore Photography in Olympia, WA.
The 3200M: Solo Missions and Peaking Power
Camas athlete Cohen Butler competes in the 3200m at Sparks Stadium for the South Sound Classic. Captured in mid-stride for Thurston County sports photography, the runner moves under direct sunlight for this Olympia athletic portrait session. Commercial sports and editorial photography engineered by Russell Moore Photography in Olympia, WA.
Boys 3200M: Cohen Butler's Solo Mission In the 3200M, Camas’ Cohen Butler didn't wait for permission. He seized a dominating lead from the opening lap and cruised to a new meet record of 8:55.52, eclipsing the 2022 mark set by Olympia's Ethan Coleman. Butler’s tactical execution bumps him to 3rd in the 2026 Washington state rankings. The chase pack fought a brutal battle, with Arlington sophomore Chase Koenigs (9:19.02) and Bainbridge senior Ignacio Llorens (9:21.69) both securing massive PRs. Inglemoor junior Sammy Connell (9:23.38) and Gig Harbor senior Gavin McKeegan (9:25.78) closed out the top five with their own lifetime bests.
Latham West leads the race with an athletic stride under bright midday sun at Sparks Stadium. The runner stays ahead of the competition against a blurred background to provide South Sound track and field highlights for Thurston County athletic photography clients. Commercial sports and editorial photography engineered by Russell Moore Photography in Olympia, WA.
Girls 3200M: Latham West Peaks on Schedule Bonney Lake’s Latham West had already logged a PR in the 1600M earlier in the day. As the track temperatures spiked, all eyes were on how she would fare against Mercer Island’s Nike Elite runner, Sophia Rodriguez. West didn't just compete; she dominated, shattering her own meet record by a massive 8 seconds. Rodriguez followed with a strong season-best of 10:40.16, while Skyline freshman Lucy Fraser threw down a PR of 11:10.38. Curtis sophomore Charlotte White (11:16.12) and Bellarmine Prep senior Marie Wiegman (11:17.43 SB) rounded out the top tier.
800 Meters of Hell
Boys 800M The 800m is pure threshold running, and Amin Fidaar wasn't done. He doubled back to dominate the boys' half-mile, clocking a blistering 1:54.93. Eisenhower junior Kian Compton chased him down for a 1:55.24, while Ferris junior Parker Lemmon grabbed a season-best 1:56.12. Annie Wright's Cooper Dicks (1:56.43) and Battle Ground's Lord King Nana-Badu-Weah (1:56.69) kept the pressure high to finish out the top five.
Eisenhower High athlete Kian Compton waits at the starting line for the Boys 800m race during the South Sound Classic Invitational. This tight-crop portrait highlights the athlete's focus under bright outdoor lighting for this Thurston County sports photography assignment. Commercial sports and editorial photography engineered by Russell Moore Photography in Olympia, WA.
Girls 800M In the girls' race, Eisenhower freshman Hadley Hanchett officially put the state on notice. She executed a brilliant race, crossing the line in 2:15.38 for a new personal best. Inglemoor junior Grace Ding (2:16.73 SB) and Eastlake sophomore Gabriela Chencheva (2:16.88) were right in the mix. Tahoma’s Liliana Britain (2:17.10) and Edmonds-Woodway senior Aliah Karl (2:17.32) completed a deeply competitive lead pack.
Eisenhower freshman Hadley Hanchett wins the girls 800m race at Sparks Stadium during the South Sound Classic Invitational. Captured with a shallow depth of field by an Olympia editorial sports photographer, Hanchett wears a red racing singlet under bright daylight for Thurston County high school track media coverage. Commercial sports and editorial photography engineered by Russell Moore Photography in Olympia, WA.
Mission Accomplished
From the first gun to the final tape, the 2026 South Sound Classic delivered. It carried the undeniable gravity of a WIAA State Championship, but without the suffocating pressure. The athletes were primed, relaxed, and ready to execute, making Saturday at Sparks Stadium a truly elite proving ground.
Ken Martinez of WestCoastXC utilizes a shallow depth of field while documenting the South Sound Classic Invitational at Sparks Stadium to provide Pacific Northwest athletic photography. Wearing a grey hoodie, the photographer captures track and field action for South Sound sports photography media. Commercial sports and editorial photography engineered by Russell Moore Photography in Olympia, WA.
