Galleries Live · 2026 WIAA State Cross Country
Find Your Runner in 2,443 Photos
All 12 races from Pasco, with top 10 results and team champions.
Social-size photos are free for personal use with credit.
The drive from Olympia to Pasco feels longer than the season itself. Summer is full of anticipation, fall arrives - small meets, invitationals, leagues, and then districts arrive faster than I want them to.
The excitement of a new season gives me energy and once it arrives it presents me with newly developing stories, emerging athletes, freshmen stars, and teams who are coming out of camp with a lot of untested confidence.
Then state week arrives, I load my gear into the car, fuel up, and hit the road. Eastern Washington in the fall means one thing - the cross country season is wrapping up.
There is nothing like it.
State can not be summarized in words or reproduced, it dances through the first Saturday of November heat by heat, athletes, coaches, parents, and running fans shifting from one point on the course to another, car to course, and back again. The flow of the day is ever growing and becomes noticeable as the day continues.
Kingston High School fans cheer and clap as runners pass at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Photo by Russell Moore.
As the day enters noon the crowds are noticeably larger, the packs of runners are tighter, and the title of state supremacy becomes more apparent.
Athletes hit the first mile trying to find a rhythm, the early tone that is set by the favorites. That first pass is a sign, a tale that many watching from outside the barriers may not notice. My eagerness to see who crests that first hill sits in my chest as I fix my viewfinder where I expect to see the first runner crest the horizon.
More often than not it’s a simple equation to work out. It is unlikely that there will be a surprise leader in the first mile. The runners who make it this far are smart and they know how to pace themselves.
As mile two approaches the runners have started to sort themselves out a bit more. Some runners have built some distance between themselves and the field, others are struggling to make up positioning, while teammates jostle for position the leaders out front are busy negotiating their own strategy.
Once more the runners disappear from view and the crowd goes quiet.
Fans scream and cheer on runners with handmade signs along the course at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Photo by Russell Moore.
Both sides of the course are full of movement as the crowd readies its position to see the leaders coming down to the finish. A finishing straight that is so open and straight that it leaves a solo runner out front feeling vulnerable, this I can see in their eyes. Some runners will look left and right to the crowds while fans cheer loudly, others will do a quick turn to see who is behind them, and all of them will breathe a sigh of relief when they break the tape.
Gonzaga Prep’s Miro Parr-Coffin glances over his shoulder in the final stretch of the 4A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. He went on to win in 14:55.7. Photo by Russell Moore.
The leaders are coming in one by one, occasionally a few runners will have to duke it out all the way to the chute. As runners start pouring in the crowd swells as more and more runners come into view, the excitement is powerful. At this point it feels like a real fight to the finish as large bodies of runners are careening down into the finishing chute doing everything they can to get the lowest score for their team.
This final race of the season is what many will frame as the masterpiece they trained months - years for.
Following athletes all season gives me perspective to feelings that are not shared with me. It is easy to understand what the goal is if you watch them enough. I can see when they are not happy, when they are thankful, and when they catch themselves off guard. The hardest is when an athlete is having a bad day and is simply fighting to their best at that given moment.
That's what makes xc so special. On this day you may give the best you have and it still may not be enough. That's the hard part. Handling adversity is bigger than winning. Winning seems like the easy part by comparison. When emotions are high and your energy is depleted, handling a big moment is a lot.
The weight of the moment varies for everyone who started the race.
One thing remains true - 1,682 athletes crossed the finish line in Pasco (not counting the Wheelchair heat), some will go on to Spokane to run NXR NW, even less will run NXN in December.
9:30am 1B/2B Girls
Manson’s Grace Walsh during the 1B/2B girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. The sophomore won in 18:28.4 for her second straight title. Photo by Russell Moore.
I was eager to see the small school races as I don't get to see them as often as I would like to. There wouldn't be a lot of surprises as the day began with Grace Walsh (Manson) entering as the favorite to win the individual championship. Walsh won in 18:28.4, repeating as champion as a sophomore. Pope John Paul II would go on to win the team championships with Isla Valpiani (5th) and Kyra Deutscher (7th) leading the way for the Eagles.
South Whidbey’s Reed Atwood during the 1A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. The junior won in 18:44.0 to repeat as State champion. Photo by Russell Moore.
10:00am 1A Girls
South Whidbey Island’s returning champion Reed Atwood was in top form as she set out for her second state championship. She would go on to finish the race in 18:44.0 with Cascade (Leavenworth)’s Greta Broom and Medical Lake’s Aya McNeill rounding out the top-3.
Cascade (Leavenworth) sophomore Greta Broom during the 1A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 2nd in 19:06.2. Photo by Russell Moore.
Medical Lake’s Aya McNeill during the 1A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 3rd in 19:09.9. Photo by Russell Moore.
Meridian freshman Layne Dickson during the 1A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 4th in 19:20.4 to lead the Trojans to the team title. Photo by Russell Moore.
Freshman Layne Dickson would finish 4th overall, leading the Meridian Trojans to a second state championship following their 2025 showing in Pasco.
Sehome’s Kjirsten Ludeman during the 2A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. The junior won in 17:54.3, 12 seconds ahead of teammate Samantha Knipp, as Sehome took the top four spots. Photo by Russell Moore.
10:30am 2A Girls
The state of Washington knows that when the 2A girls lineup it’s not a matter of which team is the favorite, it’s more of a question of who can disrupt their domination.
Sehome continues to field an outstanding team of athletes and 2026 would be no different with their top runners from the 2025 returning - the team that took them to NXN. Lynden’s Sloan Dickson, the 2025 champion, graduated.
Sehome would place 4 runners in the top-4. Occupying this much real estate makes you untouchable at this level. Led by Kjirsten Ludeman the Mariners would finish Samantha Knipp (2nd), Sloane Clines (3rd), Lil Desler (4th) with Squalicum’s Sandra Voigt rounding out the top-5.
Sehome senior Samantha Knipp during the 2A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 2nd in 18:06.3 behind teammate Kjirsten Ludeman. Photo by Russell Moore.
Sehome junior Sloane Clines during the 2A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 3rd in 18:13.8. Photo by Russell Moore.
Sehome senior Lil Desler during the 2A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 4th in 18:45.8 as Sehome took the top four spots. Photo by Russell Moore.
Ellensburg’s Grace Beachy finished 6th with freshman Eleanor Jones (Sequim) finishing 7th.
Sehome would go on to win the state title.
Pope John Paul II freshman Micah Henry outkicks Valley Christian’s Conrad Coulter in the 1B boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Henry won by 0.4 seconds, 16:14.0 to 16:14.4. Photo by Russell Moore.
11:00am 1B Boys
This was one of the early races that had several athletes who could have won the individual championships. Pope John Paul II’s returning state champion Kevin Hu took the lead from the start, but as the race wore on he fell back, eventually finishing 4th. Taking over would be PJPII’s freshman Micah Henry alongside Valley Christian’s sophomore Conrad Coulter.
Henry and Coulter would fight it out the length of the finish with Henry eventually edging Coulter to break the tape. Henry’s narrow .4 second victory shows just how competitive this classification is going to be in years to come. Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame’s freshman Conrad Baumgartner rounded out the top-3. 2027 is already looking bright for the 1B boys.
Pope John Paul II would go on to win the team title joining the girls team in the privilege of lugging home some crisp new hardware for the trophy case.
Cle Elum-Roslyn junior Waylon Stoneburg-Schafer midway through the 2B boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. He won in 15:26.7 to repeat as State champion. Photo by Russell Moore.
11:30am 2B Boys
The 2B boy’s heat was full of teams and athletes that I don't see until the post-season and even still it’s only a few teams. This was a heat that I was able to follow along with in real time with no real expectations outside of Cle Elum-Roslyn’s Waylon Stoneburg-Schafer.
The junior was coming in as the returning champion after a dominant performance in 2025. Stoneburg-Schafer finished in 15:26.7, 36.3 seconds ahead of Micah Bessire (Freeman). Northwest Christian’s Eli Vlietstra would finish in 3rd place.
Freeman would go on to win the team title with 58 points.
Cedar Park Christian’s Oliver Zimmerman and Vashon Island’s Joshua Healey at mile 1 of the 1A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Zimmerman went on to win in 15:14.2, with Healey 3rd in 15:44.4. Photo by Russell Moore.
12:00pm 1A Boys
The 1A boys field entered with a strong field of athletes. Returning champion Oliver Zimmerman returned to defend his crown and cruised to victory. Meridian’s Reuben Tevelde finished 2nd, 26 seconds back, and Vashon Island’s Joshua Healey was 3rd, 30 seconds back.
Cedar Park Christian would go on to win the team title with 53 points.
Bainbridge senior Ryan Dodge in the 2A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. He won in 15:27.7. Photo by Russell Moore.
12:30pm 2A Boys
Coming into Saturday North Central’s Elliot Yegge looked to be the favorite. Anacortes’s Dylan Rowell, the 2025 champion, graduated. As the race progressed Bainbridge’s Ryan Dodge asserted himself as the guy to catch. Dodge has always been a runner who hangs around the front, but Saturday he put his foot down and showed he is going to finish out his senior year in style. He would go on to win in 15:27.7. Yegge followed in 15:43.9 with Lynden’s Luke Schouten finishing in 3rd.
North Central would go on to win the team title with 54 points.
Seattle Prep junior Elise Corr during the 3A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She won the individual title in 18:05.9. Photo by Russell Moore.
3A Girls 1:00pm
The 3A girls race would be a highly competitive affair on the individual and team side. The field had strength everywhere you looked.
Roosevelt sophomore Lilly Lendrum Fort during the 3A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 2nd in 18:26.9. Photo by Russell Moore.
White River senior Paeton Poelman during the 3A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 3rd in 18:35.0. Photo by Russell Moore.
Seattle Prep’s Elise Corr has had a stellar junior season and was able to cap it off with an individual championship. Roosevelt’s Lilly Lendrum Fort (2nd) crossed in 18:26.9, and White River’s Paeton Poelman (3rd) in 18:35.0.
Mercer Island would go on to win the team title with 91 points.
Mt. Si senior Sophia Rodriguez during the 4A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She won in 17:31.2 for her fourth State title. Photo by Russell Moore.
4A Girls 1:30pm
Sophia Rodriguez (Mt Si) entered Saturday as the favorite to win. Winning meant she would become a 4-time state champion. 3 state championships in the 3A classification when she was at Mercer Island and a potential 4th at her new school.
Kamiakin sophomore Jaycee Jenkins and Eastlake junior Aubrey Wilems during the 4A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Jenkins placed 2nd in 17:53.6 and Wilems 4th in 18:13.8. Photo by Russell Moore.
West Valley (Yakima) sophomore Callie Orcutt and Glacier Peak freshman Dahlia Zener mid-race in the 4A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Zener placed 3rd in 18:12.3 and Orcutt 5th in 18:17.0. Photo by Russell Moore.
The first mile saw Rodriguez battling with returning champion Aubrey Wilems (Eastlake), and Kamiakin’s Jaycee Jenkins. As the race progressed so did Rodriguez’s lead on the pack. She would cross the line in 17:31.2 with Jenkins (2nd) and freshman Dahlia Zener finishing 3rd. Wilems finished 4th, 1.5 seconds behind Zener.
Issaquah sophomore Emma Marcell mid-race in the 4A girls race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She placed 76th in 19:58.0 as Issaquah won the team title. Photo by Russell Moore.
Issaquah’s girls defended their state title in fashion. Liza Rickey and Mike Cobb’s squad entered with a deep roster that featured standout senior Sally Davis alongside a couple of talented freshmen. The recipe was well mixed and the Eagles were able to celebrate another state title.
Peninsula sophomore Aurelia Hawkins in the girls ambulatory race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. She won in 25:16.5. Photo by Russell Moore.
2:00pm Ambulatory / Unified
The ambulatory and unified races would all run during the same heat ahead of the 3A and 4A boys races.
Mead sophomore Maya Page and her partner Luke Gottschalk won the coed unified race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco in 13:40.4. Photo by Russell Moore.
Mead junior Luke Gottschalk and his partner Maya Page won the coed unified race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco in 13:40.4. It was Gottschalk’s second straight State title. Photo by Russell Moore.
In the coed unified races Mead’s Maya Page and Luke Gottschalk would come out on top in 13:40.4. It was Gottschalk’s second straight title. Just behind them was Deer Park’s Cora Seagreaves and Darrin McCanna finishing in 13:50.7. Rounding out the top 3 was Hazen’s Adelynn Robinaugh and Matthew Namiki in 14:15.6.
Arlington senior Ramon Little in the boys ambulatory race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. He won in 12:31.0 to repeat as State champion. Photo by Russell Moore.
Arlington’s Ramon Little would capture the boys ambulatory individual championship, repeating as champion. Mt Spokane’s Brycen Phillips (2nd) and Franklin Pierce’s Michael Blair (3rd) would round out the top-3.
Peninsula’s Aurelia Hawkins would win the girls ambulatory state championships. I have been able to watch Hawkins many times over the last couple of years and nothing compares to the finishing kick she laid down as she capped off sensational sophomore season.
Hermiston junior Leroy Lozano Mejia nears the finish in the 3A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. He won in 14:45.9. Photo by Russell Moore.
2:30pm 3A Boys
The heat that had more questions than answers coming in. Returning champion Mana Voss (Central Kitsap) started racing as the post-season was quickly approaching after a full season of sitting out. 2025 saw him and Leroy Lozano Mejia (Hermiston) duke it out down the wire - this was the rematch I was hoping to see.
Shorewood senior Elijah Graves nears the finish in the 3A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. He placed 2nd in 14:55.8. Photo by Russell Moore.
Inglemoor senior Sammy Connell nears the finish in the 3A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. He placed 3rd in 15:06.0. Photo by Russell Moore.
Shorewood’s Elijah Graves and Inglemoor’s Sammy Connell entered as contenders along with Shadle Park’s Becks Bird.
Mejia would be the first athlete to cross the 3-mile threshold with distance between him and second place. As he approached the chute he glanced over his shoulder as not to be surprised by someone out kicking him. Once clear his eyes went to the clock and then straight ahead. As he entered the chute his face changed, the weight of redemption and relief all coming at once had him in tears as he crossed the finish line.
Shadle Park senior Becks Bird in the 3A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. He placed 4th in 15:17.9. Photo by Russell Moore.
Central Kitsap senior Mana Voss in the 3A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. The 2025 champion placed 5th in 15:25.2. Photo by Russell Moore.
Elijah Graves would go on to secure 2nd place with Connell behind him in 3rd. Voss, the 2025 champion, finished 5th, 39 seconds behind Mejia.
Gig Harbor would go on to win the team championship with 107 points.
3:00pm 4A Boys
Heading into Saturday one could easily suspect that Olympia’s Quenton Lanese was the guy to beat as he was the highest placing finisher from 2025. Camas’s Cohen Butler, the 2025 champion, graduated.
Gonzaga Prep’s Miro Parr-Coffin leads a pack that includes Mead’s Stejer Franklin, Olympia’s Quenton Lanese and Eisenhower’s Kian Compton early in the 4A boys race at the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco. Parr-Coffin went on to win in 14:55.7, with Franklin 2nd, Lanese 3rd and Compton 4th. Photo by Russell Moore.
Gonzaga Prep’s Miro Parr-Coffin was the guy who looked to challenge Lanese the most. As the field came into mile-1 Parr-Coffin had commanded the lead, the sophomore wasn’t leaving anything to question as he had one mission - win. He would go on to hold on to the lead, winning in 14:55.7. Mead’s Stejer Franklin (2nd) and Lanese (3rd). Lanese’s 3rd place time was actually 4-seconds better than his 2025 time.
The rematches are all but set for 2027 as the top-3 finishers all return. Track season should be interesting if these guys all line up again in the spring.
Mead would go on to win the state title with 69 points.
