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13 Days Until the State Boys Cross Country Announcement
Gatorade 2025 - 2026: Player of the Year

Girls Cross Country - Washington

Gatorade Player of the year

Sophia Rodriguez

Runner
MERCER ISLAND HS
MERCER ISLAND, WASHINGTON
JUNIOR
Height: 5-FOOT-4
Press Release

Peak Performance

1st - 17:24.0

WIAA Class 3A state meet

1st - 16:10.0

Mook XC Invite
“Undertaking a grueling schedule that included international success across the pond, Sophia Rodriguez fashioned an excellent junior campaign. Among the many high watermark performances were a dominant state meet win, a state-record clocking, which broke the record of former Gatorade National Player of the Year Alexa Efraimson, and the top American finish at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain. Few Washington runners have enjoyed as much success in a single season.”
Rich Gonzalez
Editor - PrepCalTrack

Athletic Excellence

The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 5-foot-4 junior won her third straight WIAA Class 3A state meet title this past season with a time of 17:24.0, breaking the tape 27.1 seconds ahead of her next-closest competitor in leading the Islanders to their second consecutive team championship. Winner in 8 of her 10 cross-country races, Rodriguez broke the state 5k record by clocking 16:10.0 to win The Mook XC Invite. In September, she competed at the U20 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain and earned the top American finish in 14th place.    

Academic Achievement

Rodriguez has maintained a 3.56 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of the Latin X Club on campus, Rodriguez has volunteered locally organizing shoe and apparel donation drives for girls in need. She has also donated her time speaking to members of youth running clubs on Mercer Island.