The 1600m Finals: 2026 WIAA State Day 1 Recap
The WIAA Washington State Track & Field Championships initiated operations on Thursday with a massive opening day. While the schedule was heavily populated with preliminary heats to set the tactical stage for Saturday’s finals, the 1600M Championships took center stage and delivered absolute fireworks.
The track was fast, yielding three new meet records and a barrage of athletes pushing well below previous record times.
4A & 2A Boys: Shattered Records and Freshman Phenoms
In the 4A Boys race, Amin Fidaar (Rogers) executed an incredible performance, claiming the championship with a blistering 4:04.57. Olympia’s star Quenton Lanese finished just a hair behind him, going below the previous meet record and besting his own freshman national record in the process.
Olympia's Quenton Lanese and Tahoma's Carson Stafford share a moment of sportsmanship after a grueling 4A 1600M final.
The 2A division saw Dylan Rowell take home another state championship. Rowell commanded the track, securing a new meet record with a phenomenal time of 4:03.65.
3A Boys: The Final Stretch
The 3A boys race was a grind to the finish line. Central Kitsap’s Mana Voss was given a serious run for his money by Shorewood’s Max Billet. The two battled down the final stretch before Voss eventually found another gear, outkicking the Shorewood standout to secure the win.
Central Kitsap's Mana Voss outkicks Max Billet of Shorewood in the final meters of the 3A Boys 1600M.
2A & 4A Girls: Setting the Standard
The girls' divisions brought unmatched intensity. Kjirsten Ludemon of Sehome ran away with a meet record in the 2A race, leaving the pack behind. In the 4A division, Latham West executed a brilliant race to land a state championship, breaking the 4:50 barrier with a time of 4:48.99.
4A Champion Latham West of Bonney Lake and Ella Koch of Union embrace after their race.
3A Girls: A Dramatic Photo Finish
The girls 3A race was the tactical highlight of the day. Sophia Rodriguez (Mercer Island) moved out front early, stretching her lead through the middle laps. But as the race entered its final phase, Jane Wycoff (Mt. Spokane) and Lejla Carlsson (Gig Harbor) closed the gap. In an incredible finish, Wycoff and Carlsson surged past the Mercer Island standout to finish one and two, leaving Rodriguez to settle for third in a dramatic photo finish.
The dramatic photo finish in the 3A Girls 1600M with Wycoff, Carlsson, and Rodriguez.
Gig Harbor's Maya Crane and Lejla Carlsson recover on the track after leaving it all out there.
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EDITORIAL COVERAGE ONLY. All WIAA State Championship photography by Russell Moore Photography is for editorial reporting and viewing only and is not available for retail sale or commercial licensing, in compliance with WIAA multimedia regulations. Northwest Sports Photography (NSP) retains all exclusive sales rights for the championship.
