Curtis' Altheimer sprints to three state track titles, East Valley's Garcia talks repeat
Nicholas 'Nico' Altheimer — a.k.a. 'That Guy' — can officially consider himself the state's fastest high schooler.
Curtis' star senior used a strong jump from the starting blocks and flew to Saturday's 4A Boys 100M Dash title (10.59), completing his quest for the title of Washington's top sprinter at the WIAA State Championships at Mount Tahoma.
'I knew I had this race in my bag,' he told The News Tribune with a smile. 'I wasn't worried. I came in front of this crowd knowing that I was going to do it. That's what I wanted to do.'
Altheimer owns the state's fastest 100-meter dash this spring (10.35), torching Thursday's preliminaries (10.52) and securing Saturday's gold medal by two-tenths of a second.
'I felt like I got out really good,' he said. 'I was able to hold it and finish, and that's the only thing that matters to me.'
Altheimer donned his gold medal atop the podium in front of a packed, overflowing crowd at Mount Tahoma Stadium — but the 6-foot-3, 190-pound speedster's afternoon was far from finished.
By day's end, there were three gold medals around his neck.
The anchor of Curtis' state-record 4A Boys 4x100M relay finished the Vikings title run (40.93), outlasting Glacier Peak for the gold in Saturday's final. Jayden Rice-Claiborne, Isaac Brooks, Kamil Ross, and Altheimer ran an all-time state-record 40.84 in Friday's preliminaries, taking down a state meet record (Garfield, 1986) that stood for 39 years.
'Very special,' Altheimer said. 'To run it back senior year and win it all? I'm very happy with it. It's special to me.'
The bubbling, confident Altheimer saved perhaps his best run for last — a dominant, 21.07-second run for glory in the 4A Boys 200M Dash, setting a new state meet record. He surpassed Wilson's Darrell Robinson's 1982 mark (21.26) recorded some 43 years ago.
'I came out here, did what I needed to do, and took it home,' Altheimer said. 'I was a little nervous, but to be honest, I know what type of athlete I am. I know the speed and power I have.'
He's far from arrogant, but Altheimer sensed a triple-crown-like afternoon in the cards. Where and when did his self-belief blossom?
'It really comes from my Mom, the way I'm so positive and so overly confident with myself and my abilities,' he said. 'It's really how my Mom raised me and taught me: you know that you can do it. So as long as you believe that you can do it, you can.'
Altheimer was one of four South Sound runners to claim 100-meter dash titles on Saturday, a dominant showing by the area's top sprinters.
Mount Tahoma freshman Kanai Kennedy struck gold in his first state meet, capturing the 3A Boys 100M Dash title on his home turf (10.80).
Kent-Meridian's Marcella Jones won Saturday's 3A Girls 100M Dash (12.17) and Emerald Ridge sophomore Iren Derricks claimed her second 4A Girls 100M title in as many years (11.68), completing her quest for back-to-back championships. Next year's meet could bring a Derricks three-peat.
'It's amazing,' Derricks said. 'It's something that I thought about. Sometimes, it feels like a dream. To be back-to-back as a freshman and sophomore is insane.
'It's awesome, and (something) a lot of people don't have a chance to do. It feels great.'
Derricks and Jones won second state titles Saturday: Emerald Ridge's star set a new state meet record in the 4A Girls 200M Dash (24.10) and Jones paced the 3A Girls 300M Hurdles (42.78).
Kent-Meridian's sprinter couldn't stop smiling. 'I knew there was going to be a lot of competition today,' she said. 'The girls were here to bring it, so I just knew I had to trust in my training, trust in God's plan, and just execute the plan. That's what we did today.'
Eddie Bruner Jr.'s jaw dropped to the turf. Unaware of his pace until crossing the finish line in Saturday's 3A Boys 400M run, Lincoln's latest state champion turned and couldn't believe the time plastered next to his name — 46.94 seconds.
Hands on his head, Bruner Jr. collapsed. Teammates and friends from nearby programs, including Curtis' Altheimer, raced to his side and greeted him with hype. Abes fans stood among the crowd with applause.
Why such shock, you ask?
'It was about breaking 47 (seconds),' Bruner Jr. said, who set a new personal record. 'I had to stay focused. When I saw 46, I wasn't expecting to run it, but it just happened. I didn't look at the time. I just let it happen.'
It's a repeat championship for Bruner Jr., who won the 2024 3A Boys 400M title (48.53).
'It was all process, staying calm,' he said. 'Trying to stay fierce.'
Bruner Jr. went on to finish second in Saturday's 3A Boys 200-meter dash (21.34). Mount Tahoma's Kennedy took fifth (21.96).
Veronica Garcia expected the boobirds who flocked to Saturday's 2A Girls 400M Dash at Mount Tahoma Stadium — but the East Valley senior has turned backlash into fuel once again.
The first-known transgender athlete to win a WIAA state track and field championship has successfully defended her crown (55.70), cutting through noise and pacing the field by more than one second for repeat state titles in Tacoma.
'I'm proud of myself,' Garcia said. 'I did what I came to do. I think that's good enough for me.
'(I was) angry. Not angry as in 'I wanted to give up', but angry as in 'I'm gonna push.''
She wasn't offered high-fives or congratulations from fellow competitors upon crossing the finish line. Boos resurfaced at the awards ceremony, where a packed crowd roared for every contestant until Garcia, some turning against her instead.
In 2024, she claimed the 2A Girls 400M Dash with a similar time (55.70) and similar response from a mixed crowd.
'I'll put this in the most PG-13 way — I'm just going to say it's a damn shame that they don't have anything else better to do,' Garcia said. 'I hope they get a life, but oh well. It just shows who they are as people.'
Garcia's first win sparked debate regarding the fairness of competition between biological males and females. Last month, the WIAA's representative assembly rejected two amendments that would have prevented transgender athlete participation in girls' sports:
Amendment No. 7 — Participation in girls' sports would be limited to biological females.
Amendment No. 8 — Athletic programs would be offered separately for boys, girls, and (a third) open division for all students interested.
To pass, amendments require 60 percent approval (or 32 votes) from voting members. Amendment No. 7 received 31 votes — one shy of approval — and Amendment No. 8 garnered 13 votes. Both were designated as advisory votes because they did not align with Washington state law, meaning a passing vote wouldn't have immediately translated to implementation for the 2025-26 school year.
'Despite the failure of (Amendment No. 7 and Amendment No. 8), the Association's message remains clear: The WIAA remains committed to following Washington state law and will continue to do so moving forward,' the WIAA wrote in an April 21 press release. 'If state law changes in the future, the WIAA Executive Board holds the authority to revise policies accordingly—and now has input from the membership on how to proceed in that event, while remaining in compliance with state law.'
The state law, Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28A.642.010, states that 'discrimination in Washington public schools on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, natural origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability is prohibited.'
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