Mercer Island’s girls track and field team celebrates winning the Class 3A state championship at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. The Islanders piled up 70 team points to earn the title, ending a roughly 50-year drought since their last girls’ track state crown in 1975. Reporters noted that a “heavily favored Mercer Island used depth to win with 70” points; Last year MIHS was state runner-up.
Individual Event Results
- 100m dash: Eloise Newman – 4th place (12.37)
- 200m dash: Lauren Balousek – 6th place (25.61)
- 400m dash: Lauren Balousek – 4th place (56.03)
- 1600m run: Sophia Rodriguez – 1st place (4:47.64)
- 3200m run: Sophia Rodriguez – 1st place (10:16.33)
- 100m hurdles: Eloise Newman – 2nd place (14.88)
- 4×200m relay: Mercer Island – 2nd place (1:41.03; school record)
- Long Jump: Aaliyah Khan – 1st place (19′ 4½″; 3A state meet record)
- Triple Jump: Aaliyah Khan – 3rd place (37′ 11½″)
- Javelin: Kiera Kelly – 4th place (123′ 1″)
- Shot Put Wheelchair: Sarina Sawhney – 1st place (18′ 6″)
- Javelin Wheelchair: Sarina Sawhney – 1st place (35′ 2″)
- Discus Throw Wheelchair: Sarina Sawhney – 2nd place (39′ 10″)
Standout Performers
Sophia Rodriguez was the team’s star distance runner. The senior swept the 1600m and 3200m titles, clocking 4:47.64 and 10:16.33 to win by large margins. Her times shattered school records and affirmed her national-class talent. Rodriguez’s two gold medals alone contributed heavily to the team’s point total.
Eloise Newman, a junior hurdler/sprinter, was also a key point-scorer. Newman claimed 2nd place in the 100m hurdles (14.88) and 4th place in the 100m dash (12.37). Her hurdling performance continued MI’s strength in the event (she was state champ in 2024). Lauren Balousek, a freshman, placed 4th in the 400m (56.03) and 6th in the 200m (25.61), adding valuable points with her sprinting. Both Newman and Balousek helped break MI’s school record in the 4×200 relay.
Aaliyah Khan was dominant in the horizontal jumps. She won the long jump with 19′ 4½″, setting a new 3A state meet record, and also finished 3rd in the triple jump (37′ 11½″). Khan’s mark in the long jump (19-4.5) was highlighted by DyeStat as a meet record-breaking leap. Her consistent performances in both jumps helped build an insurmountable lead.
Kiera Kelly also contributed in the field: she placed 4th in the javelin at 123′ 1″. In sum, Mercer Island athletes placed in the top six of every event listed above, showcasing the team’s all-around strength.
The MIHS girls were also proudly represented by Willa Shopay, Victoria Rodriguez, Scout Bates, Hanna Lassila, Sequoia Bales, and Alisha Khan, who each contributed to the team’s depth and spirit throughout the championship.
Relay and Team Depth
The Islanders’ relay teams underscored their depth. The girls’ 4×200m relay team – made up of Khan, Maia Shook, Newman and Balousek – clocked 1:41.03 to take second place. This time shattered the previous school record (set in 2015) and reflected the team’s collective speed.
Mercer Island also fielded strong 4×400m relay squads featuring Maddie O’Brien, Sophia Loop, Dahlia Usman and Dora Cheng. Overall, the team’s breadth of talent meant that points came from all areas, not just one star: as one report noted, Mercer Island’s “depth” proved decisive in the championship.
A Title 50 Years in the Making
This championship marked a historic breakthrough for MIHS girls track. According to school records, the last time the girls won a state title was in 1975 – a half-century ago. Mercer Island had finished as runners-up as recently as 2024, but had never closed the deal until now. The Spokesman-Review wrote that even an “almost perfect” effort by second-place Mt. Spokane would not have beaten Mercer Island’s team depth and point total. The Islanders’ coach and community praised the achievement, noting it capped a season in which MIHS captured numerous individual titles and earned 70 total points. The team’s success at Mt. Tahoma High School leaves no doubt: the 2025 Mercer Island girls track and field squad is a state champion in every sense.
Congratulations Mercer Island Track & Field girls on your 2025 State Championship victory!
