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Nashua PAL's 2026 Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year
Congratulations to Payton Khan, age 16, a freshman at Nashua South High School, on being named Nashua PAL’s 2026 Male Track & Field Athlete of the Year!
Payton is the kind of athlete who leads without needing the spotlight. Nashua PAL Sprint Coach Tara Towle describes him as “a quiet leader showing patience and kindness to the younger and inexperienced athletes on the team. He leads by example. Always smiling and giving 100% at every practice.” That same attitude has fueled Payton’s growth as an athlete. After competing as a sprinter and long jumper last year, he added the 400m and triple jump during his high school season – and arrived at his first PAL practice this year eager to learn hurdles. That willingness to challenge himself paid off: Payton qualified for Regionals in four events and advanced to Nationals in both the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay.
For Payton, though, success is about much more than medals or personal records. “My first race with Nashua PAL taught me an important lesson: you won’t always win, and that’s okay. Giving your best and focusing on becoming a better version of yourself will always matter more than comparing yourself to everyone else.” It’s a lesson he already models for his teammates, especially PAL’s younger athletes.
Payton highlights his PAL coaches by saying, “They never make me feel pressured. Instead, they encourage me to keep practicing, work hard, and improve at my own pace, which makes the experience enjoyable and helps build my confidence.” With that, Payton says PAL is “more than just a track team… I would not be the person I am today and would not keep pursuing to become better at track if I did not have so many people believing in me.” Now, with his kindness, curiosity, and drive to keep getting better, Payton is becoming the kind of teammate and leader who helps others believe in themselves, too.
Outside of PAL, Payton enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and playing video games. He also finds plenty of ways to stay active beyond the track, including going to the gym, swimming, jogging, and riding his bike. Whether he’s training, competing, or simply doing something he enjoys, Payton’s drive to stay active and keep growing is never far behind.
Congratulations, Payton, on being named Nashua PAL’s 2026 Male Track & Field Athlete of the Year!