Hoka John Payne Invitational
Hoka John Payne Invitational - October 3, 2026
Chambers Creek Regional Park - University Place, WA
Watch the preview of the meet HERE
Curtis High School hosts the 30th annual Hoka John Payne Invitational at the Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place near Tacoma, Washington. Here is a preview of the gold varsity races:
Girls
Ciana Johnson of Ballard looks to be the favorite of the field. Ciana is the two-time 3A Washington 800-meter champion with a personal best time of 2:06. Ciana opened the season with a victory at the Bellarmine Prep Invitational. Charlotte White, of the host school Curtis, finished second to Ciana Johnson at the Bellarmine Prep Invitational and finished 20th at the deep elite race at Bob Firman in Spokane. Lily Lendrum Fort of Roosevelt is another contender with her sophomore race victory at the GearUp Northwest XC Preview.
Redmond Mustangs have a one-two punch in Lenorah Mcgarty and Emery Dahl who finished second and fourth two weeks ago at Fort Steilacoom Invitational. Catherine Harju of Stadium is off to a great start of the season with a fourth place finish at the Bellarmine Prep Invitational and third place finish at the PLU Invitational. Freshman Eleanor Jones of Sequim will be a factor at the Hoka John Payne Invitational thanks to her third place finish at Fort Steilacoom. Evelyn Satwicz of West Seattle will be in the top pack based on her sixth place finish at the Bellarmine Prep Invitational and eighth place finish at the Bellevue Invitational. Also look for Bria Rempp of Meridian who ran a strong fifth at the gold division at last weekend's Nike Portland XC.
Issaquah has a great pack and looks to win the team competition. Other teams to watch include host school Curtis and Meridian.
Boys
Joshua Healy of Vashon Island will take the ferry with his teammates to Chambers Creek and is one of the favorites. Joshua ran 14:50 at Bob Firman last week and finished fourth at Fort Steilacoom. Gatlin Michaelsen of Mt Spokane leads a strong Wildcat team and finished 19th last week in the elite race at Bob Firman. Felix Wang of Lake Oswego travels north with credentials from this season including fifth place at the Oregon City Invitational and 17th at the elite race at The Mook. Judah TeVelde of Meridian won the sophomore race a the GearUp Northwest Preview Invite and finished 20th at the Jim Danner Championship at Nike Portland XC last weekend. Asher Pepin of Curtis, the host school, won the Bellarmine Prep Invitational to open the season.
Marcos Andujar of Yelm won the senior race at the Olympic XC Classic and finished 25th last weekend at the Jim Danner Championship at Nike Portland XC. Simon Hagos will be in the mix and finished ninth at the Bellarmine Prep Invitational. William Strasser of Milwaukie will also be coming up from Oregon and has placed 11th at the Opener at Western Oregon, 18th at the elite race at The Mook.
Mt Spokane are headed over the mountains with eyes on winning the team title in the gold race. Curtis boys hope to challenge with the Wildcats of Mt Spokane and local team Gig Harbor will also be competitive.
Look for photo galleries of the varsity races after the meet!
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