Twilight Invitational Recap: Lanese Runs 14:59.3 and Holt Edges Hennen at the Line
Just as I was loading up my car to head to Everett, I pulled up my map to see what the drive had in store: 1 hour 40 minutes. I wasn't looking forward to that.
With the boys varsity race at the Hoka John Payne Invitational in my rearview, I hit the road for the Nike Twilight Invitational at Legion Memorial Golf Course.
I had reviewed the map for this course numerous times over the weeks leading up to it, and once I arrived I was instantly lost. I sat parked at a dead end, watching someone else get denied at a locked gate. It made sense, but now I needed to sort out where I was actually going. Parking was at a premium, and I knew that.
Once settled, I grabbed my gear and walked to the golf course, entering the grounds just as a girls race was passing by. This was my first time at this race, so I was going to have to learn, and learn fast.
Late-afternoon light and long shadows sweep across the fairway at Legion Memorial Golf Course as early races get underway. Photo: Russell Moore
I wiggled between tents and athletes and eventually found the finishing area, then set off to find the start. I heard loud cheering in the distance and figured that was a good direction to head. I made it over just in time for the start and watched the runners serpentine through the opening section of the course. The hairpin turns had athletes working out strategy as they warmed up.
I was as tired as I was excited. A day that began around 6am was catching up with me and my body was telling me to slow down, so I did. I devised a plan and stuck to it: I wasn't going to shoot all over the course, and certainly not every athlete.
I found a decent spot near the start where light and shadow collided on the open green, with dramatic late-afternoon light.
Olympia's Quenton Lanese charges out to an immediate solo lead, on pace for a personal-best 14:59.3 victory. Photo: Russell Moore
When the boys varsity 3A-4A race began, one thing was almost certain: Olympia's Quenton Lanese would be out front. He was. He didn't leave much to question, tearing off from the pack on a mission that would land him a new personal best of 14:59.3. As Lanese made the turn and headed straight toward me, the light began to hit him and I felt good about the spot I'd chosen.
Glacier Peak's Blake Roberts placed 2nd in 15:39.7, anchoring the Grizzlies' 5-point team win over Skyline. Photo: Russell Moore
Glacier Peak's Blake Roberts (15:39.7) , Skyline's Yashveer Brar (15:43.7), and Mountain Terrace's Reilly Brookhart (15:49.8) found themselves in various places in the pack, with Brar moving from 22nd to 3rd by the 2-mile mark.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the team scores other than what was on paper. As finishers began coming down the chute, I quickly realized the Glacier Peak and Skyline boys were going to be tough to hold back. They filed in one after another, several fighting for position with teammates, which is always a good sign.
Score Spread
Five Points Separated 1st and 2nd
Team points, boys 3A-4A · shorter bar wins
Olympia bar hatched. Lanese won individually in 14:59.3.
Lanese had to wait 1 minute, 38.3 seconds before he saw a teammate cross the line. In my season preview I had the Olympia Bears as an outside team finding their way to the state championships, and I still stand by that. They finished 6th on a day that wasn't their best race, but when does that day come? Had the Bears run personal bests across the board, it would only have been good enough for 4th.
None of that matters now. What matters is the next few weeks.
Manson's Grace Walsh glides beneath the arches on her way to winning the Girls 1B-2A race in 18:23.5. Photo: Russell Moore
Manson's Grace Walsh took the 1B-2A girls race in 18:23.5. Kingston's Emma Grice (18:42.8) was 2nd, with Squalicum's Audrey Blue (18:54.0) rounding out the top three. Reed Atwood ('25 WIAA 1A State Champion) was 4th in 19:01.1, and Cascade's Greta Broom (19:03.0) was 5th.
Kingston's Emma Grice runs through late-day light on her way to 2nd place (18:42.8) in the Girls 1B-2A race. Photo: Russell Moore
The Anacortes girls came away with a strong team win, scoring 89 to Cascade's 123.
Score Spread
Anacortes Packed It In: 34 Points Clear
Team points, girls 1B-2A · shorter bar wins
Manson's Grace Walsh won individually in 18:23.5.
As the girls 3A-4A race took the line, I was finding a new spot. The lighting had changed significantly and my old one wasn't going to cut it. Shortly after the gun, the girls went down a long straight, up a small hill, then looped back past the other side of the green. My plan was simple: point A to point B on the far side, then the finish.
Olympia's Leah Hennen and Lake Washington's Elin Beeler lead the Girls 3A-4A field through the opening loop, with Glacier Peak's Jaya Holt tracking closely. Photo: Russell Moore
As they came our way, Olympia's Leah Hennen was out front with Lake Washington's Elin Beeler and Glacier Peak's Jaya Holt just behind. From my next point on the course I caught a lot more runners. Auburn's Kisanet Mearafu had joined the front four, with Lucy Fraser (Skyline) and Maggie Hurtado (The Northwest School) just behind.
Lake Washington's Elin Beeler and Auburn's Kisanet Mearafu battle for position in the front wave of the 3A-4A race. Photo: Russell Moore
Skyline's Lucy Fraser and The Northwest School's Maggie Hurtado work together through the mid-race chase pack. Photo: Russell Moore
After that wave, I wouldn't see them again until the finish. I positioned myself closer to the line, predicting a close one, and it was.
Glacier Peak's Jaya Holt and Olympia's Leah Hennen trade strides in a dramatic sprint to the line, both clocking identical 18:03.3 PRs. Photo: Russell Moore
Through the viewfinder I could see Hennen and Holt trading strides down the straightaway. Jaya would dart out front, then Hennen, a back-and-forth game of cat and mouse. Hennen surged at the very end and both crossed the line with shiny new PRs: 18:03.3 for each. Athletic.net awarded the victory to Holt.
It was one of the most fun races I've seen in a while, between two athletes I admire every time I see them run.
Centennial's lead runner Lauren Burrup finishes 3rd, pacing her squad to a 15-point team victory over Olympia and Glacier Peak. Photo: Russell Moore
Centennial won the team race, with Olympia and Glacier Peak behind them. Looking ahead to Pasco, the Bears and Grizzlies will have another shot to slug it out in what's shaping up to be a very interesting 4A girls state championship. Glacier Peak can feel good about its day even without frontrunner Dahlia Zenner (9), who sat out.
Score Spread
Centennial Won on Depth: 15 Points Clear
Team points, girls 3A-4A · shorter bar wins
Olympia bar hatched. Leah Hennen and Jaya Holt both ran 18:03.3; Athletic.net gave Holt the win.
After that surge of energy I was done. I had time to get back near the start and catch a few frames of the boys 1B-2A race, so I ran over, got my images, and headed to the car.
I got home around 9pm. I had regrets, but I'd do it again. It's not every day I get to attend two XC meets in a single day, much less see this much talent.
True twilight arrives at 7:00 PM as the Boys 1B-2A field charges across the fairway, capping off a 15-hour day of cross country across Western Washington. Photo: Russell Moore
Keep Going
More From This Season
Photography and coverage by Russell Moore · russell-moore.com
