Hudson Runners Shine at Lufkin Cross Country Classic

The Lufkin Panther 2025 Cross Country Classic was held on Wednesday, October 1, on the campus of Lufkin High School. Scores of schools from Tyler to Elysian Fields to Dallardsville sent athletes to run in the middle school through high school races.

What Makes The Lufkin Course So Tough?

This event acts as the final tune-up for cross country teams before their respective district meets next week. The Lufkin cross-country course is not one to set personal bests. The inclines, along with a hot October day, made sure of that. However, this meet is one of the area's best in testing athletes before their quest to make the state tourney in Round Rock.

READ MORE: Deep East Texas Runners Who Qualified for 2024 State Cross Country

Hudson Teams Excel at Lufkin Cross Country

The distance teams from Hudson had an outstanding meet, bringing home numerous individual and team medals.

Hudson's Middle School team brought home first place in the 2-mile race. The top five finishers for Hudson were Adrianna Luna, Brielle Hernandez, Hailey Fleming, Selah Smith, and Emma Brazil. Luna, a 7th-grader, took 1st place in the event with a time of 13:11, over two minutes ahead of the 2nd place finisher. Hernandez and Fleming finished 4th and 5th overall for the race.

In the High School Girls' 1A-4A Division race, Hudson won gold. The top five finishers were Annie Stewart, Paige Brazil, Avery Edmunson, Ava Henson, and Madilynn Freeman. Stewart, a sophomore, won first with a 2-mile time of 12:44.

The Hudson Boys' varsity squad won first place in the 5A-6A Division race, a notable accomplishment considering they are a 4A school. The top five across the line for the Hornets were Miler Stewart, Rylan Luna, Jackson Stripling, Jordan Garcia, and Cole Jones. Stewart, a junior, won individual gold with a 5K time of 16:24.

Other Meet Notables

In the Girls' Varsity 5A-6A 5K race, Cara Sims from Elysian Fields, a 2A school, came in first with a time of 18:27. Sims is the 2-time and defending 2A champ in the 3200, she is also the defending 2A champ in the 1600, and she was last year's 2A cross country state champ. She also holds the 2A state record in the 3200.

In the High School Boys' 1A-4A Division race, the Roughriders of Center took home the overall team title.