Hoka 28th John Payne XC Invitational - October 5
Chambers Creek Regional Park - University Place, WA
We travel north to the Tacoma area for the Hoka 28th John Payne XC Invitational hosted by Curtis High School. The course has been used lately for the last Pac 12 Cross Country Championship in 2023 and NCAA West Regional in 2022. For high school athletes, the course will be used in November to qualifying meet for the Washington State Meet. Here is a preview of the varsity gold races.
High School Boys Varsity Gold 12:20
Some of the top boys racing on Saturday in the Gold Varsity race of the John Payne Invitaitonal include Connor Rickey of Issaquah who finished second at the Mook Invitational two weeks ago. Rickey's teammate Henry Tait is another top boy runner in the race. Isaac Benjamin of South Kitsap won the junior race at the Olympia XC Classic in September. Cooper Boyle of Tacoma finished second a few weeks ago at the Fort Steilacoom Invitational. Jacob McManus of Columbia River set a school record for the 5000 meter distance in cross country at last week's Nike Portland XC.
High School Girls Varsity Gold 12:45
Ballard's Cassidy Armstrong has started the cross country season strong with a second place finish at the Bellarmine Prep Invitational and a victory at Fort Steilacoom Invitational. Elektra Higgins of Peninsula has announced her commitment to run at SMU and will race Saturday. Taylor Sletner of Gig Harbor has won the PLU Invitational and will be in the mix for the lead on Saturday. Latham West of Bonney Lake opened the season with a third finish at the Bellarmine Prep Invitational. A couple of Oregon athletes travel north to challenge the Washington athletes. Jaya Simmons of Valley Catholic and Elissa Schaeffer of Sunset finished fourth and fifth at last week's Nike Portland XC.
Look for photo galleries of the silver and gold varsity races after the meet!