BREAKING: Two-time State Champion Zarian Rodriquez out for the season with broken collarbone
Two-time cross country state champion and current state leader in the 1600m Zarian Rodriguez has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 track season after suffering a broken collar bone when diving at the line for the win at the Scottsdale Distance Classic at Saguaro High School this past Thursday. Rodriquez won a stacked 1600m against the likes of NXN runner-up Yohannes Van Meerten and NAU commit Symond Martin, while also diving to out-lean Flagstaff’s Alex Bland. Rodriquez posted a 4:11.0h which is a betterment of his previous state lead, barely outdiving Bland’s 4:11.0h (all handtimed marks). Martin finished third in 4:13.0h followed by Van Meerten’s 4:13.3h.
Video of Zarian Rodriquez diving for the win in the 1600m.
Not only is Rodriguez the current state leader, but he is also undefeated in the 1600m this season. This included wins at the Brooks Chandler Rotary Invitational, back-to-back wins at the Distance in the Desert Winter Track Series, as well as winning his heat at the New Balance Indoor National Championships in Boston, Massachusetts. He’s also the current AZ #2 in the 3200m, behind Page’s Symond Martin and his only loss in an individual race this season.
Rodriguez was stripped of the D1 3200m title last year after a mix-up at the check-in tent that disqualified half of the runners before the race, which later reinstated the initially disqualified runners to run the race in a separate heat than Rodriguez. Due to Rodriguez being in the first heat and running a tactical race without knowing there would be another heat, Basha’s Boston Walseth was awarded the win from the second heat.
The Hamilton Husky also won back-to-back AIA D1 cross country titles, while also leading the Huskies to a historic low of 26 points in 2024. He also qualified for Brooks National Championships where he finished 21st. Rodriguez is committed to Colorado State University in the fall. He wraps up a historic high school career for the Hamilton Huskies despite his season being cut early.
