Chief Sealth Cross Country Teams Qualify for State
Both boys' and girls' teams secured spots at the WIAA State Championships following strong finishes at the district meet.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Running
Live Poll
Do you believe high school sports programs are important for the spirit of your community?
The Chief Sealth International High School girls' and boys' cross country teams both qualified for the upcoming State Championships. Seven individual runners earned All-District honors following their performance at the 2A Sea-King District Championships.
Why it matters
Qualifying for the state meet represents a significant achievement for the Chief Sealth program, validating the training efforts of the runners throughout the season.
Seven runners earned All-District honors by placing in the top 14. The boys' team finished two points ahead of Nathan Hale, while the girls' team finished two points behind Cedarcrest.
The players
Chief Sealth International High School
This Seattle public high school competes in the 2A classification for cross country.
Ziko Kraft
He is a runner for Chief Sealth who finished 2nd in the district race.
Lillian Stowell
She is a runner for Chief Sealth who finished 2nd in the district race.
Elena Phillips
She is a runner for Chief Sealth who finished 5th in the district race.
Harper Mapes
He is a runner for Chief Sealth who finished 8th in the district race.
The details
The 2A Sea-King District Championships were held at Lower Woodland. During the meet, Ziko Kraft finished with a time of 16:59 and Harper Mapes clocked 17:20, while Lillian Stowell finished at 20:56 and Elena Phillips at 21:20.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: 2A Sea-King District Championships occurred at Lower Woodland.
November 7, 2026: The WIAA State Cross Country Championships will take place in Pasco.
Season Trajectory
This qualification marks the final progression for the Chief Sealth program within the competitive WIAA State Cross Country Championships structure. Success here confirms the teams' status among the top contenders in the 2A classification heading into the final meet.
Seven runners from Chief Sealth qualified for All-District honors by securing top 14 finishes. The teams will now shift their focus to the state meet in Pasco.
The takeaway
The team's success in tight scoring margins highlights the importance of individual placement in cross country scoring. Athletes now look toward peaking for the state-level competition in Pasco.
What happens next
The WIAA State Cross Country Championships will occur in Pasco on Saturday, November 7th.
Further reading
Learn more about the local athletic landscape at Running.
Source note: This article includes information reported by West Seattle Blog....
Live Poll
Do you believe high school sports programs are important for the spirit of your community?
