The 2026 California Track and Field season is here, and the state's distance girls are poised to deliver one of the most competitive years in recent memory.
Below, we highlight the top distance returners from the 2025 season and why they will shape the landscape of 2026.
Championship Experience
Athletes with State and National Level Experience
Chiara Dailey (La Jolla) // SR: 800m- 2:07, 1600m- 4:37, 3200m- 9:58
Since her freshman year, Dailey has met the CIF State 1600m final with her best finish being third two years in a row.
Jaelyn Williams (Eastlake) // SR: 800m- 2:11, 1600m- 4:42, 3200m- 10:12
This former CIF State 3200m champion is coming off one of the greatest CA cross country post-seasons in history.
Summer Wilson (Irvine) // SR: 1600m- 5:01, 3200m- 10:16
Records fell when Wilson lined up during the cross country season, and she could potentially do the same this track season.
Braelyn Combe (Santiago) // SR: 800m- 2:09 & 1600m- 4:35
The reigning CIF State 1600m champion showed up in the clutch several times last season to win state and national championships.
Chloe Elbaz (JSerra) // SR: 800m- 2:09 & 1600m- 4:49
Last year, Elbaz demonstrated the great strength that helped her compete at the highest levels.
Amaya Bharadwaj (Palo Alto) // SR: 800m- 2:13, 1600m- 4:48.14, 3200m- 10:46
After becoming an all-around all-star last year, Bharadwaj proved to be a nationally elite talent during the cross country season.
Aelo Curtis (Ventura) // SR: 1600m- 4:49
Although Aelo Curtis missed the last CIF Season, she managed to produce amazing performances in the summer, propelling her to an impressive cross country season.
Ella Mogannam (Lick Wilmerding) // PR: 800m- 2:13 & 1600m - 4:49
An undefeated CIF cross country season and a 34th-place finish at Nike Cross Nationals may propel Mogannam to an amazing track season.
Giselle Fernandez (Riverbank) // SR: 800m- 2:14.96, 1600m- 4:43.80, 3200m- 10:45.13
She has gained valuable experience finishing 6th in last year's CIF State 1600m final and becoming a Brooks XC All-American.
Carol Dye (Santa Margarita) // SR: 800m- 2:15.74, 1600m- 4:48.84, 3200m- 10:42.55
After finishing 9th in the CIF State 1600m final, Dye is now with Santa Margarita, where she qualified for the Brooks XC Championships after a stellar cross country season.
Ava Decleve (Scotts Valley) // SR: 800m- 2:09
Farah Allen (Branson) // PR: 800m- 2:14, 1600m- 4:48, 3200m- 10:59
Competing in the CIF State 1600m final and in the Brooks XC Championships will give Allen tons of confidence in 2026
-- Grace Smith at the 2025 CIF-SS Prelims // Photo by Jon Huerta --
Young Vets
Freshmen who may be entering their super sophomore season
Grace Smith (Claremont) // SR: 800m- 2:08 & 1600m- 4:57
Runner-up last year in the CIF State 800m final and a great cross country season make Smith a favorite in any 800m race.
Ava Padilla (Monte Vista) // SR: 800m- 2:09 & 1600m- 4:54
Last year, the freshman gained valuable experience finishing 14th in the CIF State 800m final and helping Monte Vista win the CIF State DII XC title.
Azra Gercek (Partola) // SR: 800m- 2:12
Consistency has proven key for Gercek in 2025, as she ran 11 800m races at 2:16 or faster. Could we see a big swing for under 2:10 as she continues to knock on the door?
Gaby Gutierrez (Buchanan) // SR: 1600m- 4:56 & 3200m- 10:36
Racing at the CIF State XC Championships, CIF State Track and Field Championships, and Nike Cross Nationals has given Gutierrez a wealth of experience as she enters her sophomore track season.
Isla Terrill (Monrovia) // SR: 800m- 2:12 1600m- 4:53
She barely missed the CIF State Track Championships, but finishing 14th at the CIF State XC Championships could give he a lot of momentum in 2026.
All-Around All-Star
Expect these athletes to continue showing off their amazing talents across multiple events
Charlotte Hopkins (Arcadia) // PR: 800m- 2:11, 1600m- 4:46, 3200m- 10:07
Last season, Hopkins demonstrated her range in every distance race and earned a 5th-place finish at the CIF State 3200m final.
Isabella Wroblewski (Yorba Linda) // SR: 800m- 2:10 & 1600m- 4:53, 3200m- 10:50
As a sophomore, Wroblewski proved she could do it all, but she's shown how much greater her range has become after a stellar cross country season.
Khloe DeLaTorre (Vacaville) // PR: 800m- 2:12, 1600m- 4:48, 3200m- 10:51
Isabella Ramirez (Bullard) // PR: 800m- 2:17.90, 1600m- 4:52.97, 3200m- 10:20.63
In order to finish top 15 in the CIF State 3200m final twice, you need to be versatile in every event.
Gweneth Williams (El Toro) // PR: 800m- 2:16, 1600m- 4:50, 3200m, 10:46.86
Williams ran with a fearlessness as a sophomore that pushed her to amazing marks in every event.
-- Charlotte Hopkins in the CIF State 3200m Final // Photo by DeAnna Turner --
Breakout Candidates
These athletes missed the CIF State Track and Field Championships last year
Isabella Ruiz (Ontario) // PR: 1600m- 5:00 & 3200m- 10:36
As a sophomore, she had made an astonishing improvement, but her cross country season proves she can do even more.
Elizabeth Jacklin (ML King) // PR: 1600m- 5:02 & 3200m- 10:54
After a stellar cross-country season in which she finished 14th at the CIF State XC Championships, she will continue to be a threat at every level.
Nadia Mejia (Long Beach Wilson) // PR: 1600m- 5:03 & 3200m- 10:46
Millie Bayles (Trabuco Hills) // SR: 1600m- 5:06
Gretchen Yakaitis (Carondelet) // PR: 800m- 2:14 & 1600m- 5:03
During cross country, we witnessed insane improvement that led to the CIF State XC DIII title and could lead to a better track season.
Kamilah Salim (West Torrance) // PR: 1600m- 4:57 & 3200m- 10:49Isabella Ramos (Point Loma) // PR: 800m- 2:13.33, 1600m- 4:57, 3200m- 11:02.45
Last year, she missed the CIF State Track meet, but she won big cross-country invitationals last season, which may be the confidence boost she needs to compete at the highest level in track.
The 2026 California Track and Field season is here, and the state's distance girls are poised to deliver one of the most competitive years in recent memory.
Below, we highlight the top distance returners from the 2025 season and why they will shape the landscape of 2026.