As the 2026 track season winds to a close, EvCC is honoring five student athletes who now sit in the school’s top ten for their respective events.

Two of the guiding figures through this track season are head coach Rachel Cundy and sprint coach Aaliyah Earvin.

“Our goal as a program is to help athletes further develop to hopefully give them opportunities after Everett,” coach Cundy said at the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational.

What Cundy emphasized in her coaching is the importance of keeping her athletes in a balanced mindset. She acknowledged that many of the athletes won’t compete after college, so one of her goals is to keep her athletes in love with the sport well after they leave.

She also expressed that the records set — while exalting — are easier to achieve than ones in distance. This is because EvCC’s distance team has firm roots, while the rest of the events (sprints, throws, and jumps) have come in and out of existence at EvCC.

Coach Earvin shares an idea of a similar vein, “Do it without harm.”

What Earvin preaches is to keep the emphasis on your personal health. This sport demands excellence from its athletes. Excellence, while sought by all, is achieved by the few who are able to keep their mind and body in peak shape at the right time.

The only thrower on the list is the 19-year-old freshman Avery Brennan, who set his mark at fourth all-time in the hammer throw event.

“I’m only two-and-a-half meters from the record, so that’s what I’m going for this year,” Brennan said. His current personal best at hammer throw is 45.28 meters.

Brennan’s track and field journey began his freshman year at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, where he was egged on by a friend to join and was surprised by his high marks.

“I made districts my freshman year in discus, so I ended up sticking through it and then ended up going to state my sophomore and senior year.”

His favorite event right now is definitely the hammer throw, which he never even practiced until he was a high school senior!

“I learned at Ironwood Throw Center in Idaho, so I started to pick it up, and I like it now!”

Brennan’s potential is sky high, and only time will tell how he molds himself as an athlete.

After Brennan comes the only pole jumper to make the list. Sophomore Justice Funston now ranks sixth all-time at EvCC after a strong showing at the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational.

“I’m gonna go get the record,” Funston said.

Even before high school, Funston came from an athletic background. Basketball is his die-hard staple, but Funston also played tennis and ran cross-country in high school.

After previously running for Monroe High School, Funston brought his diverse background to Everett. He’s well-versed in events across the track, performing in the 100m dash, the 1500m run, the 110m hurdles, the long jump, high jump, and even the decathlon.

“Last year for Everett I did some decathlon stuff. This year I’m just dialing it in on pole vault.”

Funston’s favorite pole vaulter is Olympian Emmanoil “Manolo” Karalis, but his greatest mentor was his high school coach.

“He was the best. Even in life, he’s a big mentor for me.”

The part of the team seeing the most records broken this year is the sprinters. Three of the five athletes made this list for their sprints, and Coach Earvin could not be prouder of her group. Success for her means that she’s doing her part to keep her athletes in the zone.

“Sometimes we (do) not have good races, and then everything aligns together, and we get to see all their hard work pay off. So I’m really excited for them when the stars align for them.”

It starts with the freshman Sophia Michalopolous. She is a true freshman — meaning in her first year of college eligibility — and the athlete from South Whidbey Island High School ranks eighth all-time in the 100m dash, and third all-time in EvCC for the long jump — her favorite event.

“I was pretty proud of myself, and it’s kind of unexpected,” Michalopolous said.

A talented athlete like Michalopolous received offers from other schools before college, but EvCC was the pragmatic choice, being the closest school. But that’s about all she knew about EvCC track coming into the season.

“I didn’t know what marks were considered top marks or what marks were considered low marks. So when I got the message that I did that, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s really cool!’”

But Michalopolous’ start came from the sticks of southern Whidbey Island. She discovered her talent for running in middle school, racing other kids up a hill. Things eventually came to a head when she realized she was a lot faster than some of the other kids. Naturally, she signed up for the track team.

Signing up for the team was Michalopolous’ idea, but it was inspired by her family. Michalopolous’ biggest inspiration was undoubtedly her mother, who used to run in the Junior Olympics as a kid. It inspired Michalopolous to run and make her parents proud.

“I think that’s pretty darn cool if you ask me.” Michalopolous said.

The other female sprinter to hit school-wide marks was actually a hurdler: Madeline “Maddy” Dang, who is fifth all-time at EvCC in the women’s 400m hurdles.

“I was surprised when I saw it,” Dang said in response to the social media post that transcribed her record.

Dang came out of an ultra-competitive 4A school in Lake Stevens, and it took a lot to carve out her place.

“I started out with sprints, but our high school had like so many sprinters… I got into hurdles, and [after that] I really liked it so I stuck with it.”

Being a student-athlete, she’s been tasked with training, performing, going to class and getting good enough grades to compete, all while keeping her mental health intact. College is a struggle for us all, and the balance between school and life is a delicate one.

“I’ve gotten more used to being independent and having a positive mindset throughout college,” Dang said.

One thing seldom mentioned about the 400m hurdles is the mental fatigue it imbues. The 400m hurdles feel more like a mid-distance event compared to the straightforward 400m sprint. Success in the 400m hurdles requires a good balance between stamina and top speed.

Dang said that she’s lucky to have a mentor like Coach Earvin to help keep her mind right.

“She hurdled in college, so her being able to coach me really inspires me.”

Last on the list is quite possibly the fastest man at EvCC: Alexander “Xander” Rabena. This year he holds the school’s top times in the 100m, the 200m, and the 400m. The freshman from Henry M. Jackson High School is now 6th all-time in the 200m dash, with a time of 22.19.

“Coming in first year, man, I was lowkey slacking in the offseason, but coming back and putting down some good times … I feel great about it,” Rabena said.

The 200m is also his favorite event, as he feels the 100m dash is more about the start than actual top speed. Unlike the 100m, the 200m dash gives athletes the time to adjust their technique mid-race. The 100m runners dash down a straight path, while 200m runners face a curve.

“There’s definitely a lot more technique and thinking that goes into it.”

Rabena said the speed came naturally, perhaps from his father. It started, as did many others, with juvenile races on the playground before evolving into the athlete that he is now.

But what’s the real secret to his speed?

“A whole lot of plyometrics. Jumping, a lot of jumping.” Rabena said

His biggest inspiration by a mile is his father, who seemed to play every sport under the sun.

“He played baseball, basketball, golf, track as well, wrestling … Down in Yakima, he was holding records, too. Y’know I’m trying to carry the family legacy, man!”

When asked about the opportunity to transfer, Rabena stated his intentions to do another year at EvCC.

“I’m a student athlete, man, and I’m heavy on the student part.”

Although the track season is winding down to its end, these stellar student-athletes still have the chance to raise the bar even higher at the 2026 NWAC Track and Field Championships, which start May 18.