The Definitive Guide to the 2026 Washington State 2A 1,600m Championships: Rankings and Race Previews
While the larger classifications often grab the early headlines, the 2A division arrives at the 2026 WIAA State Championships offering some of the most compelling narratives in Washington track and field. This year, the 1,600m fields are defined by two distinct extremes: unprecedented, suffocating team depth on the girls' side, and sheer, runaway individual dominance on the boys' side.
Heading into the finals at Mt Tahoma Athletic Stadium, here is your complete breakdown of the current leaderboards and an expert preview of the impending 2A state showdown.
2026 Season Leaderboards: The Top 5 Contenders
These marks represent the top five times recorded this season within the 2A classification heading into the post-season.
Elite 2A Girls 1,600m Leaderboard
The 2A girls division is currently defined by the unprecedented depth of Sehome High School, which remarkably holds four of the top five state rankings.
| Rank | Athlete | Grade | School | Time | Date | Meet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kjirsten Ludeman | 10 | Sehome | 4:48.67 | Apr 04 | Oregon Relays |
| 2 | Sloane Clines | 10 | Sehome | 4:57.60 | Apr 25 | Eason Invitational |
| 3 | Sloan Dickson | 12 | Lynden | 4:58.05 | May 02 | SUNNY AND 70! |
| 4 | Samantha Knipp | 11 | Sehome | 4:58.65 | May 02 | SUNNY AND 70! |
| 5 | Lil Desler | 11 | Sehome | 5:00.55 | May 02 | SUNNY AND 70! |
Elite 2A Boys 1,600m Leaderboard
In the 2A boys field, Anacortes senior Dylan Rowell has established himself as the undisputed favorite, entering the postseason with a seasonal best more than 10 seconds faster than his nearest competitor.
| Rank | Athlete | Grade | School | Time | Date | Meet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Rowell | 12 | Anacortes | 4:07.72 | Apr 24 | Nike/Jesuit Twilight |
| 2 | Baynes Machinski | 11 | Bellingham | 4:18.22 | May 02 | Shoreline Invitational |
| 3 | Ignacio Llorens | 12 | Bainbridge | 4:19.00 | Mar 28 | Kent-Meridian Invite |
| 4 | Aaron Barron Pintor | 12 | Columbia River | 4:20.01 | Mar 28 | Tiger Invite |
| 5 | Wyatt Nitzschke | 11 | Columbia River | 4:20.46 | Mar 28 | Tiger Invite |
2A State Championship Outlook: Who Takes the Podium?
Girls’ Preview: A Sea of Green
Lil Desler, Samantha Knipp, and Sloan Clines of Sehome High School stand at the start at Nike Cross Nationals. Desler, Knipp, and Clines are top contenders heading into the 2026 WIAA State Track and Field Championships at Mt Tahoma High School in Tacoma, WA. Photographed by Russell Moore.
The rest of the 2A classification enters the state championship with one terrifyingly clear challenge: who can break up the Sehome powerhouse?
Sophomore Kjirsten Ludeman has enjoyed a sensational campaign thus far, emerging as Sehome’s star athlete and the definitive one to beat. Carrying a blistering 4:48.67 from the Oregon Relays, she holds a lead of nearly nine seconds over the rest of the field. However, the Sehome dominance doesn't stop with Ludeman. The team is absolutely loaded across the board, occupying four of the top five ranking spots with Sloane Clines, Samantha Knipp, and Lil Desler effectively functioning as a moving wall.
Senior Sloan Dickson of Lynden High School is the primary disruptor to a potential Sehome sweep. Dickson will need to bring her absolute "A-game" and perfect tactical positioning to outrun the green-clad pack at the front.
Boys’ Preview: Rowell vs. The Chase Pack
Dylan Rowell of Anacortes High School competes in the 2025 Nike Cross Nationals. Rowell is a top contender heading into the 2026 WIAA State Track and Field Championships at Mt Tahoma High School in Tacoma, WA. Photographed by Russell Moore.
Dylan Rowell of Anacortes is the undeniable, heavy favorite. As the returning 2A champion carrying a massive 10-second gap over the second-place seed, Rowell’s elite 4:07.72 mirrors the top times seen in the larger 4A and 3A divisions. Known as an aggressive starter who refuses to let his motor down off the redline for all four laps, Rowell also possesses a dangerous out-kick that makes him nearly impossible to beat if the race somehow stays close.
Ignacio Llorens of Bainbridge High School competes in the 1600m at the South Sound Classic. Llorens is a top contender heading into the 2026 WIAA State Track and Field Championships at Mt Tahoma High School in Tacoma, WA. Photographed by Russell Moore.
While the gold medal seems highly secure if Rowell shows up in his usual form, the battle for the remaining podium spots will be an absolute nail-biter. Baynes Machinski (Bellingham) and Ignacio Llorens (Bainbridge) are the top contenders to lead the chase pack; to pull off an upset, they must find a way to latch onto Rowell's early pace without burning out. Additionally, Columbia River High School brings significant tactical strength to the line, with teammates Aaron Barron Pintor and Wyatt Nitzschke both ranking in the top five and separated by less than half a second.
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