Northeast Florida- The Bolles School added another chapter to its storied athletic history on May 7 at the FHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships at the University of North Florida. The Bulldogs claimed the program’s seventh girls track and field state championship by finishing in a rare tie for first place in the team standings.
The deadlock marked just the second team championship tie in FHSAA history and the first since 1977. It also represented the sixth state title won by Bolles during the 2025-26 school year and the 169th overall championship in Bolles Athletics history.
The title carried special significance for Head Coach Tony Ryan. After helping guide the girls program to six previous championships as an assistant, Ryan earned his first state title as head coach of the girls team. It was his second overall track and field championship, having previously led the Bolles boys to a state crown in 1999. Ryan has also built one of the state’s premier distance programs, winning 13 girls cross country state titles during his career.
Bolles established itself early in the meet with outstanding performances in the field events before securing crucial points in the distance races.
Senior Sienna Starks (’26) delivered one of the Bulldogs’ two individual state championships, winning the pole vault with a mark of 11 feet, 9.75 inches. Starks had enjoyed an exceptional season, including a victory at the Pepsi Florida Relays after clearing 11 feet, 11¾ inches and a regional championship with a personal-best vault of 12 feet, 3.6 inches. Starks is committed to Kennesaw State University.
Fellow senior Evie Freeman (’26) captured the long jump state title with a leap of 20 feet, 2.5 inches, giving Bolles another major boost in the team standings. Freeman is committed to Tennessee Tech for basketball.
Terrell McCoy (’26) added valuable points with a runner-up finish in the shot put after recording a throw of 44 feet, 2.75 inches (13.48 meters). McCoy entered the state meet after winning both district and regional championships. She also placed fourth in the discus.
Freshman distance standout Sofie Stam (’29) finished second in both the 1,600 meters (5:04.08) and the 3,200 meters (10:57.60), showcasing a bright future for the Bulldogs.
The Bolles 4×800-meter relay team of Stam, Ella McGowan (’26), Lila McGowan (’28), and Charlotte Joseph (’26) earned another runner-up finish with a time of 9:21.17.
Additional scoring performances came from Camilla Clarke (’26), who placed third in the shot put and fifth in the discus. Tori Sessions (’28) finished fourth in the high jump, Wynter Green (’28) was fifth in the triple jump, and Charlotte Joseph contributed points with fifth-place finishes in the 800 meters and sixth in the 1,600 meters. Ari Walker (’26) rounded out the scoring with an eighth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles.
With a mix of veteran leaders and emerging young stars, the Bulldogs once again proved why Bolles remains one of Florida’s premier track and field programs. Their historic championship tie ensured that the 2026 season will be remembered as one of the most remarkable in school history.
