November 7, 2026 | Sun Willows Golf Course | Pasco, Washington
Three years. Three state championships. One incredible team.
The Mercer Island High School girls cross country team has done it again! For the third consecutive year, the Islanders are Washington State 3A champions, adding the 2026 championship to their back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025.
On Saturday, November 7, Mercer Island delivered another outstanding team performance at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, Washington, defeating a talented field of 3A programs to bring another state championship trophy home to Mercer Island.
The Islanders finished with 91 points, ahead of Seattle Preparatory School with 101 points and Gig Harbor with 116 points. It was a competitive championship that came down to the collective efforts of seven Mercer Island athletes, each contributing to a remarkable team accomplishment.
Winning a state championship is special. Winning three consecutive state championships is a testament to the culture, commitment, and depth of a program.
Congratulations, Islanders!
THE 2026 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: TOP FIVE TEAMS
The 3A girls championship featured some of Washington’s strongest cross country programs. Mercer Island ultimately prevailed, finishing 10 points ahead of Seattle Prep and 25 points ahead of Gig Harbor.
Final team standings:
| Place | School | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercer Island | 91 |
| 2 | Seattle Preparatory School | 101 |
| 3 | Gig Harbor | 116 |
| 4 | Edmonds-Woodway | 185 |
| 5 | Inglemoor | 191 |
The Islanders’ 91-point performance was built on a strong front-running group and outstanding contributions throughout the lineup.
Congratulations to Seattle Prep, Gig Harbor, Edmonds-Woodway, Inglemoor, and all the programs that competed at the state championship. The quality of competition made this a memorable race and a well-earned championship for Mercer Island.
THE TOP FIVE INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS
The individual championship featured exceptional performances from athletes representing several different schools.
Seattle Prep junior Elise Corr captured the individual state championship in 18:06.0, followed by Roosevelt’s Lilly Lendrum Fort and White River’s Paeton Poelman.
Top five individual finishers:
| Place | Athlete | School | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elise Corr | Seattle Prep | 18:06.0 |
| 2 | Lilly Lendrum Fort | Roosevelt | 18:26.9 |
| 3 | Paeton Poelman | White River | 18:35.1 |
| 4 | Ella Savage | Gig Harbor | 18:39.7 |
| 5 | Hannah Bazzi | Seattle Prep | 18:45.5 |
Congratulations to Elise Corr on an outstanding individual championship performance and to all five athletes for earning their places among the state’s best.
Mercer Island sophomore Bella Heczey finished just outside the individual podium, taking sixth overall in an impressive 18:51.6.
SEVEN ISLANDERS. ONE TEAM. ONE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
One of the most impressive aspects of this championship was Mercer Island’s depth. Seven Islanders competed at the state meet, with all seven finishing among the top 50 runners in the 3A girls race.
Bella Heczey led the way with a sixth-place finish, while Ella Zhang secured a top-15 result. Freshmen Nora Cudney and Kendall Baker followed with outstanding finishes inside the top 22.
Rizah Despres completed the five-runner scoring lineup, and Ava Arnsdorf and Sierra Brondstetter rounded out the seven-athlete group.
Congratulations to all seven Mercer Island state competitors:
| Athlete | Overall Place | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bella Heczey | 6th | 18:51.6 |
| Ella Zhang | 15th | 19:09.7 |
| Nora Cudney | 19th | 19:21.4 |
| Kendall Baker | 22nd | 19:22.0 |
| Rizah Despres | 37th | 19:53.3 |
| Ava Arnsdorf | 38th | 19:53.4 |
| Sierra Brondstetter | 50th | 20:07.5 |
The team’s first four runners all finished inside the top 22, providing an outstanding foundation for the championship effort. Having five runners across the finish line in the top 37, followed by two more in the top 50, demonstrates just how much strength this team brought to Pasco.
But there is another important part of the story that deserves special attention.
THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH RUNNERS: THE CHAMPIONSHIP ADVANTAGE OF TEAM DEPTH
In cross country, only the first five runners from each school contribute directly to the team score. However, that does not mean runners finishing sixth or seventh are less important.
In fact, they can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of a championship.
These athletes are often called displacers. Although they do not add points to their own team’s score, they can increase the scores of competing teams by finishing ahead of their scoring runners.
Every opposing runner displaced means another point added to that team’s total.
And Mercer Island had a tremendous advantage in this department.
Consider the performances of Ava Arnsdorf and Sierra Brondstetter.
Ava finished 38th overall in 19:53.4. Sierra followed in 50th in 20:07.5.
Both athletes finished ahead of the fifth scoring runner from every other school in the championship’s top five: Seattle Prep, Gig Harbor, Edmonds-Woodway, and Inglemoor.
Think about what that means.
Mercer Island’s sixth and seventh runners were finishing ahead of the fifth scoring runners of every other top-five program.
That is an extraordinary demonstration of team depth.
Ava and Sierra were not simply completing the lineup. They were actively changing the scoring landscape for the competing teams.
This is one of the reasons cross country is such a special team sport. Every finishing position matters. Every athlete has a role, and sometimes the difference between winning and losing comes down to runners who are not even included in their own team’s five scoring positions.
Mercer Island had seven athletes capable of competing at an exceptional level on championship day. That depth was a significant part of the Islanders’ success.
The championship was won by five scoring runners, but it was supported by seven outstanding teammates.
THREE CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
The 2026 championship adds another remarkable chapter to Mercer Island girls cross country history.
- 2024: Washington State 3A Champions
- 2025: Washington State 3A Champions
- 2026: Washington State 3A Champions
Three consecutive state championships represent something much bigger than a single outstanding season.
They reflect the dedication of athletes across multiple graduating classes, the development of returning runners, the emergence of new talent, and the commitment required to remain among the very best programs in Washington.
This year’s championship is especially meaningful because it reinforces that Mercer Island’s success is about more than any one athlete or graduating class. It is about a program that continues to develop strong runners, build team chemistry, and compete for championships year after year.
The 2026 Islanders have carried that tradition forward.
RACE DAY IN PASCO
The Washington State 3A Girls Cross Country Championship took place Saturday, November 7, at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, Washington.
The 5,000-meter race was scheduled for 1:00 p.m., bringing together qualified athletes from across the state for the final race of the high school cross country season.
The weather cooperated for championship racing. Around the scheduled start time, temperatures were approximately 59 degrees, with partly cloudy skies and north-northwesterly winds around 7 mph. No measurable precipitation was recorded.
These were comfortable conditions for a November championship race, providing a favorable setting for the athletes to finish their seasons.
For Mercer Island, the trip to Eastern Washington ended with another state championship and a place in the program’s history.
THANK YOU, ISLANDERS!
Congratulations once again to:
Bella Heczey, Ella Zhang, Nora Cudney, Kendall Baker, Rizah Despres, Ava Arnsdorf, and Sierra Brondstetter.
Seven athletes who represented Mercer Island with determination, sportsmanship, and outstanding performances.
A special thank-you goes to the coaches for their leadership and commitment throughout the season, and to the families, supporters, and booster club community who make the Mercer Island cross country program possible.
We also extend our congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, and schools that competed at the Washington State Championships. Reaching this level of competition is an accomplishment deserving of recognition, and the performances throughout the 3A field made this a memorable championship.
To our Islanders: enjoy this accomplishment. You have earned it.
2024. 2025. 2026.
THREE CONSECUTIVE WASHINGTON STATE 3A GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Congratulations, Mercer Island!
GO ISLANDERS!
Photos taken by the greatest team photographer ever Scott Knoblich.