Westside Classic 2026 Preview: Voss Is Back, Hennen vs. White, and Who Can Crash Pasco
The Westside Classic kicks off October 31st at Chambers Bay Golf Course, with races running from 9am to 2:30pm. The day opens with the small 1B and 2B schools and closes with a crescendo: the 3A and 4A boys, featuring some of the fastest runners in the state.
1B/2B: Pope John Paul II Is the Standard
Kevin Hu of Pope John Paul II breaks the tape to win the state title at the 2025 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Photo by Russell Moore.
I don’t get to cover the small schools very often, so I won’t pretend to know these athletes by listing times and stats I can find online. I do know Pope John Paul II is led by Larry Weber (WSCCCA Hall of Fame), and his Eagles simply dominate.
Senior Kevin Hu returns as the leader on the boys side, with freshman Micah Henry taking some of the pressure off him. On the girls side, senior Ruby Henry leads the way, with teammate Lily Warne-McGraw right in the scrum with her.
It would take a miracle for anyone to upend the Eagles before they pack their bags for Pasco. The boys will defend their state title, and the girls will look to claim the top spot for the first time since 2023, when Ruby Henry won state as a freshman. Hu returns as the reigning state champion.
1A / 1B / 2B · Top Athletes
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1A #1Joshua Healey
2B #5Kevin Hu
2B #7Micah Henry
2B #20Liam Outlaw
Ruby Henry
1B/2B #7Isla Valpiani
1B/2B #10Kyra Deutscher
Lily Warne-McGraw
1B/2B #20Chloe Summers
1A rank is district rank. 2B and 1B/2B ranks are State Watch class ranks.
1A: Vashon Island Sets the Pace
Vashon Island enters as the 1A juggernaut. Joshua Healey (14:50.4) tops 1A rankings, and his mark is faster than any in 2A, 3A or 4A competing Saturday. Courses make a difference, so take that with a grain of salt, but Healey’s scorched Chambers Bay at the Hoka John Payne Invitational in 15:04.9 on Oct. 3. . The Pirates put five boys in the top 10: Healey, Harrison Decker, Leif McBennett, Max McLachlan and freshman Christopher Healey. Annie Wright’s Cooper Dicks is the next-fastest boy at 15:37.3.
On the girls side, freshman Adeline Arthur leads the way at 19:17.5, with Bellevue Christian’s Gabriella Battisti and Adrianna Deason at #2 and #3. Vashon Island, Bellevue Christian, Annie Wright and Cascade Christian all have girls in the top 10.
1A · Top 10 District Rankings
Source: Athletic.net
Girls
| # | Athlete | Gr | School | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adeline Arthur | 9 | Vashon Island | 19:17.5 |
| 2 | Gabriella Battisti | 10 | Bellevue Christian | 19:43.2 |
| 3 | Adrianna Deason | 10 | Bellevue Christian | 20:20.4 |
| 4 | Annabelle Thompson | 11 | Vashon Island | 20:22.4 |
| 5 | Bella Caine | 11 | Annie Wright | 20:22.8 |
| 6 | Julianna Mitton | 10 | Cascade Christian | 20:28.1 |
| 7 | Joy Middlekauff | 9 | Cascade Christian | 20:30.3 |
| 8 | Quinn Zahara | 9 | Klahowya | 20:54.9 |
| 9 | Alexis Hillis | 9 | Vashon Island | 20:56.0 |
| 10 | Charlotte Hines | 10 | East Jefferson | 21:03.0 |
Boys
| # | Athlete | Gr | School | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Healey | 12 | Vashon Island | 14:50.4 |
| 2 | Cooper Dicks | 12 | Annie Wright | 15:37.3 |
| 3 | Harrison Decker | 11 | Vashon Island | 15:58.7 |
| 4 | Leif McBennett | 11 | Vashon Island | 16:16.4 |
| 5 | Joshua Yearian | 12 | East Jefferson | 16:21.8 |
| 6 | Joshua Mathews | 11 | Annie Wright | 16:27.3 |
| 7 | Nico Errichetti | 12 | East Jefferson | 16:34.2 |
| 8 | Max McLachlan | 11 | Vashon Island | 16:45.8 |
| 9 | Christopher Healey | 9 | Vashon Island | 16:47.3 |
| 10 | Calvin Forsberg | 12 | Bellevue Christian | 16:49.7 |
2A: Pasco Tickets Are on the Line
Girls: A Freshman Leads, Bainbridge Brings the Depth
Evelyn Shutske of Bainbridge at the 2025 WIAA State Cross Country Championships, where she placed 25th in 2A girls in 19:47.8. Photo by Russell Moore.
Freshman Eleanor Jones (Sequim) enters as the fastest 2A girl at 18:10.6. Kingston’s Emma Grice is having a great senior season and will look to stay out front as long as she can. Bainbridge’s Evelyn Shutske will look to lead the Spartans to Pasco. Bainbridge enters as the strongest team, with Sequim just behind. The Spartans field 10 girls inside the district top-50, while Sequim fields just 5: four freshmen and one sophomore. Bainbridge also fields a young team behind two fast upperclassmen.
2A Girls · Top 10 District Rankings
Source: Athletic.net
| # | Athlete | Gr | School | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eleanor Jones | 9 | Sequim | 18:10.6 |
| 2 | Emma Grice | 12 | Kingston | 18:22.6 |
| 3 | Evelyn Shutske | 12 | Bainbridge | 18:41.1 |
| 4 | Brynn Fulton | 12 | Olympic | 19:12.2 |
| 5 | Vega Hendrickson | 11 | Bainbridge | 19:42.4 |
| 6 | Emily Bair | 10 | Sequim | 20:12.3 |
| 7 | Veda Stewart | 11 | Bremerton | 20:17.2 |
| 8 | Alisha Carpenter | 12 | North Mason | 20:23.2 |
| 9 | Frances Daugherty | 9 | Bainbridge | 20:25.4 |
| 10 | Abigail Thatcher | 10 | Olympic | 20:29.0 |
Emma Grice of Kingston at the Nike Twilight Invitational, Oct. 3, 2026. Photo by Russell Moore.
Boys: Dodge and Kingston’s One-Two Punch
Ryan Dodge of Bainbridge racing at the 2025 Westside Classic. Photo by Russell Moore.
2A Boys · Top Athletes
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The 2A boys are going to have a showdown that’s worth anyone’s time. Ryan Dodge (Bainbridge) leads the way, while Kingston’s duo of Coen Van Vliet and Timothy Clark-Johnston gives the Buccaneers the one-two punch they need if they plan on taking the top mark.
Clover Park’s Arturo Baltazar-Magana at the Fall Classic Invitational, Oct. 10, 2026. Photo by Russell Moore.
Clover Park’s Arturo Baltazar-Magana is having a standout season. The senior has led the Timberwolves all year and will look to freshman teammate Elijah Ninnis for a big day in hopes of securing a couple of spots in Pasco.
Steilacoom’s Zechariah Swift and Luke Slater at the 2026 league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
Steilacoom has been an eye-opener. They aren’t the fastest team, but they run in packs. If Zechariah Swift and Luke Slater can bring the rest of their runners along, they stand a chance to displace one of the top teams.
2A Boys · Top 10 District Rankings
Source: Athletic.net
| # | Athlete | Gr | School | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Dodge | 12 | Bainbridge | 15:04.6 |
| 2 | Coen Van Vliet | 11 | Kingston | 15:18.9 |
| 3 | Timothy Clark-Johnston | 12 | Kingston | 15:30.6 |
| 4 | Arturo Baltazar-Magana | 12 | Clover Park | 16:17.0 |
| 5 | Caleb Davis | 12 | Olympic | 16:21.0 |
| 6 | John Henry Ory | 9 | Bainbridge | 16:27.4 |
| 7 | Micah Richard | 11 | Kingston | 16:29.8 |
| 8 | Seth Burke | 12 | Bainbridge | 16:34.2 |
| 9 | Zechariah Swift | 11 | Steilacoom | 16:49.3 |
| 10 | Elijah Ninnis | 9 | Clover Park | 16:55.9 |
3A: The Tough Field Heading East
Girls: Poelman Leads, Gig Harbor Chases
Paeton Poelman of White River at the Fall Classic Invitational, Oct. 10, 2026. Photo by Russell Moore.
3A Girls · Top Athletes
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#1Paeton Poelman
#2Ella Savage
#3Brynnlie Upchurch
#4Maya Crane
#5Ascher Lascheck
#6Maya Wentworth
#7Maddi Larson
#8Kate Behrens
Gig Harbor’s girls will look to have a big day at Chambers Bay. The Tides have a strong team, but they’ll need a boost heading to Pasco in what looks like a tough field, with every team chomping at the bit for the state title. They run well behind junior Ella Savage, with Brynnlie Upchurch and Maya Crane inside the 3A girls top-50 on the state leaderboard. Their 4 and 5 runners will be critical down the stretch.
Gig Harbor’s Ella Savage leads the pack at the 2026 Olympia XC Classic. Photo by Russell Moore.
White River’s Paeton Poelman has continued to move in the right direction during her high school career. Her senior year has left no doubt that she is one of the state’s top runners. She enters the weekend fresh off a 3A NPSL League Title. I suspect she will command the race from the beginning as she is a runner who is not afraid to lead the pack from start to finish.
3A Girls · Top 10 District Rankings
Source: Athletic.net
| # | Athlete | Gr | School | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paeton Poelman | 12 | White River | 18:05.0 |
| 2 | Ella Savage | 11 | Gig Harbor | 18:50.7 |
| 3 | Brynnlie Upchurch | 10 | Gig Harbor | 19:06.3 |
| 4 | Maya Crane | 10 | Gig Harbor | 19:13.8 |
| 5 | Ascher Lascheck | 11 | Peninsula | 19:14.2 |
| 6 | Maya Wentworth | 10 | Federal Way | 19:27.1 |
| 7 | Maddi Larson | 10 | White River | 19:31.4 |
| 8 | Kate Behrens | 9 | Enumclaw | 19:38.5 |
| 9 | Taylor Le | 11 | Kentlake | 19:41.9 |
| 10 | Heidi Hallett | 12 | Bellarmine Prep | 19:49.7 |
Boys: Voss Returns, and Gig Harbor Runs in a Pack
Central Kitsap’s Mana Voss salutes as he breaks the tape to win the 3A boys title at the 2025 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Photo by Russell Moore.
3A Boys · Top Athletes
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#1Joshua Minner
#2Mana Voss
#3Max Dower
#4Luke Saalfeld
#5Jackson Fuller
#6Galen Peloquin
#7Austin Messer
#8Jack Greer
#9Nolan Winderl
Mana Voss (Central Kitsap) is back in a big way. The Oregon commit threw down a 15:35.0 at the league championships in his first big race back. Gig Harbor’s Max Dower finished right behind him in 15:36.4, an incredible day for the senior. Dower’s late-season trajectory has carried over from the 2025 track season, and it’s clear he wants to lead the Tides.
Gig Harbor’s Max Dower closes on the finish at the 2026 league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
Dower has a strong group alongside him in Joshua Minner, Galen Peloquin, Jack Greer, and Laird Watkins. They run in a very tight group, which makes them one of the most dangerous teams in the state. With Minner and Dower up front, they walked away with the district championship easily and head to state ready to face some very strong teams.
Bellarmine Prep’s Luke Saalfeld (4) and Jackson Fuller (5) sit back to back in the district rankings and will look to have a big day before heading east. Todd Beamer’s Austin Messer is coming off his second 3A NPSL league championship. He ran 15:39.8 back in September at Fort Steilacoom, compared to 16:22.6 at last Saturday’s league championship, so you have to wonder which pair of legs shows up. I’m guessing the former, and if he has that kind of day he stands to crack the front group wide open.
Peninsula is still lingering around the front pack. The Seahawks had a down day at leagues but still finished a comfortable 3rd behind two of the strongest teams in the district. They were one of my big early-season surprises behind Nolan Winderl and Wyatt Harding. Harding is coming off a personal best at leagues (15:58.8), while Winderl had a down day. On Oct 3rd, Winderl ran 15:53.4 for a big PR, and he’ll look to rediscover that mindset Saturday.
Peninsula’s Nolan Winderl runs stride for stride with a Lakes runner at the 2026 league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
3A Boys · Top 10 District Rankings
Source: Athletic.net
| # | Athlete | Gr | School | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Minner | 12 | Gig Harbor | 15:25.2 |
| 2 | Mana Voss | 12 | Central Kitsap | 15:35.0 |
| 3 | Max Dower | 12 | Gig Harbor | 15:36.4 |
| 4 | Luke Saalfeld | 12 | Bellarmine Prep | 15:37.4 |
| 5 | Jackson Fuller | 11 | Bellarmine Prep | 15:38.2 |
| 6 | Galen Peloquin | 11 | Gig Harbor | 15:38.4 |
| 7 | Austin Messer | 12 | Todd Beamer | 15:39.8 |
| 8 | Jack Greer | 12 | Gig Harbor | 15:47.7 |
| 9 | Nolan Winderl | 10 | Peninsula | 15:53.4 |
| 10 | Wyatt Harding | 11 | Peninsula | 15:58.8 |
4A: The Crescendo
Girls: Tahoma on Paper, Hennen vs. White in Real Life
Stadium’s Catherine Harju leads a group at the 2026 league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
Tahoma’s Jordan Daligcon runs past a red barn at the 2026 league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
4A Girls · Top Athletes
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#T1Leah Hennen
#T1Charlotte White
#3Catherine Harju
#4Kisanet Mearafu
#5Tabitha Riley
#6Avery Boyle
#8Hollie Barkley
#9Jordan Daligcon
#10Alessandra Esparza
The 4A girls will see Camas, Curtis, Tahoma, Olympia, and Union duke it out on a challenging course. Tahoma is stacked with talent, but can they overcome the stiff competition? On paper they’re the clear favorites, but the field is scrappy.
Olympia’s Carolina Schilter at the 2026 SPSL 4A league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
Olympia will want front-runner Leah Hennen back on the course to stay in contention. Hennen finished second here and 4th at state in 2025 as a freshman, and she’d love to lead the Bears back to Pasco for a shot at the title. Curtis’ Charlotte White finished 6th here last year and is the 2nd-fastest returner for 2026. I for one am excited about a potential Hennen vs. White head-to-head. If these two advance to Pasco, I can’t wait to write that story, because it gets really exciting when all the 4A girls come together, and this might be one of the biggest storylines in years.
Battle Ground’s Sophia Rogers at the 2026 Nike Portland XC Invitational. Photo by Russell Moore.
Battle Ground’s Sophia Rogers had a fantastic day at her league meet last week and will look to keep that momentum going. Other individuals to watch: Gemma Stevick (Olympia), Carolina Schilter (Olympia), Vivian Porter (Kennedy Catholic), Gemma Caprara (Kennedy Catholic), Lola Hammock (Kennedy Catholic), Liliana Britain (Tahoma), and Catherine Harju (Stadium).
4A Girls · Top 10 District Rankings
Source: Athletic.net
| # | Athlete | Gr | School | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Leah Hennen | 10 | Olympia | 18:03.3 |
| T1 | Charlotte White | 11 | Curtis | 18:03.3 |
| 3 | Catherine Harju | 11 | Stadium | 18:25.5 |
| 4 | Kisanet Mearafu | 10 | Auburn | 18:33.0 |
| 5 | Tabitha Riley | 10 | South Kitsap | 18:38.9 |
| 6 | Avery Boyle | 12 | Tahoma | 18:43.9 |
| 7 | Liliana Britain | 12 | Tahoma | 18:50.4 |
| 8 | Hollie Barkley | 12 | Tahoma | 18:51.8 |
| 9 | Jordan Daligcon | 10 | Tahoma | 18:53.2 |
| 10 | Alessandra Esparza | 10 | Curtis | 18:54.1 |
Boys: Lanese Is the Heavy Favorite
Olympia’s Quenton Lanese at the 2026 SPSL 4A league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
4A Boys · Top Athletes
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#1Quenton Lanese
#2Asher Pepin
#3Marcos Andujar
#4Will Cramer
#6Dominic Pavone
#8Michael Bulldis
#9Thane Winters
#10Jordan Conner
Curtis senior Asher Pepin at the 2026 Hoka John Payne Invitational at Chambers Bay. Photo by Russell Moore.
Curtis’ boys enter behind senior Asher Pepin, and they’ll have their hands full if they want to finish Saturday unscathed.
Stadium’s Will Cramer on his way to the 4A NPSL league title at the 2026 league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
Stadium will look to its 4 and 5 runners for a big day behind Will Cramer, Jonah Neidlinger, and Michael Bulldis. The Tigers are a strong team, but they’ll need that big day if they hope to clinch the top spot.
Yelm senior Marcos Andujar, who placed third at the 2026 SPSL 4A league championships. Photo by Russell Moore.
The boys from Yelm have shown they’re ready to go toe to toe with big-city schools. Senior Marcos Andujar has caught everyone’s eye with his progression, finishing 3rd at the league championships behind Lanese and Pepin. Alongside him, seniors Peter Robbins and Kingston Farmer are having lights-out seasons. Brian Harwell takes the fourth spot, with freshman Anthony Abeyta fifth.
Tahoma’s Thane Winters at the 2025 Jesuit Twilight Relays. Photo by Russell Moore.
Tahoma’s Thane Winters leads the way for the Bears, but sophomore Ethan Fischer took control at the league championships, finishing 4th, 4 spots ahead of Winters. Dominic Pavone (Kennedy Catholic) has shown he can lead the pack off the line and will look to make a big statement Saturday.
Battle Ground’s Trae Copper at the 2026 Nike Portland XC Invitational. Photo by Russell Moore.
Battle Ground and Olympia both have the potential to disrupt the scoring if they can have personal-best days. Battle Ground’s Trae Copper is having a big season, with teammates Lord King Nana-Badu-Weah and Vance Copper (his brother) just behind. But Olympia’s Quenton Lanese enters as the heavy favorite for the individual title.
4A Boys · Top 10 District Rankings
Source: Athletic.net
| # | Athlete | Gr | School | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quenton Lanese | 10 | Olympia | 14:54.7 |
| 2 | Asher Pepin | 12 | Curtis | 15:26.9 |
| 3 | Marcos Andujar | 12 | Yelm | 15:30.9 |
| 4 | Will Cramer | 11 | Stadium | 15:31.2 |
| 5 | Jonah Neidlinger | 12 | Stadium | 15:43.8 |
| 6 | Dominic Pavone | 11 | Kennedy Catholic | 15:46.3 |
| 7 | Gideon Bosh | 10 | Curtis | 15:46.6 |
| 8 | Michael Bulldis | 12 | Stadium | 15:53.9 |
| 9 | Thane Winters | 11 | Tahoma | 15:54.1 |
| 10 | Jordan Conner | 12 | Auburn | 15:56.8 |
