Barn Burner Alert: Deep Field Promises a Thrilling Finish at the John Payne Invitational
Editor's Note: All statistics, times, and rankings in this preview were sourced from Athletic.net and are current as of September 27, 2025. This analysis does not reflect results from any meets that may occur in the week leading up to the invitational. Please also note that some teams may not have finalized their athlete registrations at the time of publication.
The boys' varsity race gets underway (2024) at the HOKA John Payne Invitational. The massive field promises a fierce battle from start to finish on the iconic Chambers Bay course this Saturday.
On Saturday, October 4, 2025, the unforgiving, rolling hills of Chambers Bay Golf Course will host the HOKA 29th John Payne Invitational, a critical mid-season proving ground for the Pacific Northwest's cross country elite. For the top teams and individuals from Washington and Oregon, this race is a high-stakes preview of the state championship battles to come. The field is packed with talent, featuring perennial powerhouses like Jesuit, Stadium, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Bainbridge, Curtis, Pope John Paul II, Sherwood, Tahoma, Gig Harbor, Bishop Blanchet, and Meridian, all vying for supremacy.
The Girls' Race: Chasing Rodriguez
Mercer Island's Sophia Rodriguez cruises to victory at the 2024 WIAA State Cross Country Championships. As the defending Class 3A champion, she enters this weekend's race at Chambers Bay as the clear favorite.
The Girls' Varsity Gold race is shaping up to be a showcase for one of the nation's premier talents: Mercer Island junior Sophia Rodriguez. After a commanding victory at The Mook XC Invite with a blistering time of 16:10.0 just a few weeks ago, she is the clear favorite. Rodriguez is the defending Class 3A state champion and is looking to continue her dominant season.
The real story will be the fierce competition behind her. A trio of sub-18-minute runners are hoping to challenge for a spot on the podium. Maeve O’Scannlain of Jesuit is coming off a significant personal best of 17:47.1 at The Mook. Host school Curtis will be represented by sophomore Charlotte White, who turned heads with a 17:55.6 at the same meet. Bonney Lake junior Latham West, who holds a personal record of 17:30.60, is another major contender with proven championship experience. With a massive field of girls capable of running under 19 minutes, the race for team points will be exciting to the finish.
In the team competition, the stage is set for a preview of the state championships. In the 4A classification, Olympia, Tahoma, Issaquah, and Curtis are the teams to watch. The 3A battle will feature Mercer Island, Bishop Blanchet, Gig Harbor, and White River. From the smaller classifications, Bainbridge, Meridian, Medical Lake, and Pope John Paul II will be looking to make their mark.
The Boys' Race: A Wide-Open Barn Burner
The boys' race is poised to be a barn burner that could come down to the final 100 meters. The field is incredibly deep, with a host of runners who have already dipped under the 15-minute barrier this season.
Mercer Island senior Bodie Thomas established himself as a top contender with a runner-up finish at The Mook in a swift 14:32.0. The team element will also play a crucial role in the individual results, as Mercer Island, Jesuit, Curtis, and Bainbridge all bring stables of fast runners who will look to work together and pace off the competition.
Athletes to Watch
The boys' field is incredibly deep, with razor-thin margins separating the top contenders. This chart visualizes just how close the competition is expected to be this weekend.
The chart for the Girls' Gold race tells a clear story: Sophia Rodriguez is in a league of her own. This visual highlights her significant lead over a talented field of competitors.
The Course Factor: The Mook Effect vs. The Chambers Bay Test
A key underlying factor in this race is the "Mook Effect." Many of the top athletes set personal records on the fast, downhill-oriented course at The Mook XC Invite. An analysis of the top 30 boys' times from that meet compared to their other races shows an average 5k improvement of over 9%, or roughly 1 minute and 25 seconds.
However, the championship course at Chambers Bay will level the playing field. Run entirely on grass, its series of relentless, rolling hills presents a true test of strength and attrition. Unlike the single, decisive hill at The Mook, Chambers Bay demands sustained power and rhythm. This will bring the time difference between the top runners even closer, setting the stage for a tactical and thrilling conclusion on the road to the state championships.
HOKA 29th John Payne XC Invitational
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RACE SCHEDULE
9:00am Community Open Race 5k
9:45am Youth Race (Elementary/Middle School) 1.5 miles
10:05am High School Boys JV Gold (athletes under 20 minutes) 5k
10:35am High School Girls JV Gold (athletes under 26 minutes) 5k
11:10am High School Boys Varsity Bronze (top 5 average over 19 minutes) 5k
11:45am High School Girls Varsity Silver (top 5 average over 22:30) 5k
12:15pm High School Boys Varsity Silver (top 5 average 17 minutes-19 minutes) 5k
12:40pm High School Girls Varsity Gold (top 5 average under 22:30) 5k
1:10pm High School Boys Varsity Gold (top 5 average under 17 minutes) 5k
1:35pm High School Varsity Awards Ceremony
1:55pm High School Boys JV Silver Teams M-Z (athletes 20-24 minutes) 5k
2:30pm High School Boys JV Silver Teams A-L (athletes 20-24 minutes) 5k
3:05pm High School Girls JV Silver (athletes over 26 minutes) 5k
3:50pm High School Boys JV Bronze (athletes over 24 minutes) 5k
