2025 Austin Cross Country: Rising to Statewide Power

In the landscape of Texas high school cross country, the spotlight often shines brightest on the big-name metros, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, and San Antonio. Their programs dominate headlines, their runners flood the rankings, and their teams seem to define the standard year after year.

But while those regions draw much of the attention and viewer traffic, the 2025 season made one thing undeniably clear: the Austin area is just as strong a distance-running hub as any in the Lone Star State. This year, Central Texas not only proved it belongs in the conversation, it demanded to be at the center of it.

The Vandegrift Vipers: Texas' Quiet Dynasty

Leading the charge was Austin Vandegrift, a program that has quietly become one of Texas's most consistent juggernauts. With four straight runner-up finishes at the UIL 6A State Championships from 2022 through 2025, the Vipers have built a dynasty of excellence and perseverance.

This fall, they once again came agonizingly close to the top, placing second with 98 points and an astounding team average of 15:37.4, one of the fastest in 6A history. Senior Kai McCullough capped off a stellar high school career with a fourth-place individual finish, clocking 15:00.9 and standing tall on the state podium. Freshman Avinash Dewagan delivered one of the day's biggest surprises, finishing 17th in 15:32.7 in his state debut.

Junior Collin Goodwin (15:38.4), senior Miles Nutt (15:57.0), and sophomore Anderson Mills (15:58.2) completed a top five that once again had Vandegrift flirting with championship glory. Though they fell just short, the Vipers' depth and youth ensure they'll remain a top-tier threat in 2026 and beyond.

Austin's dominance didn't stop at the team level. The individual 6A boys race featured multiple podium finishes from Central Texas athletes, highlighting the depth and firepower the region now possesses.

McCullough's fourth-place effort was closely followed by Round Rock's Andrew Esparza, who ran 15:02.7 to take fifth, and Austin Bowie's Griffin Hummel, who finished sixth in 15:06.0. All three runners broke into the top 10 in a loaded state field, showcasing Central Texas' strength at the front of the pack. Westlake senior Grant Seade added to the region's impact with a 12th-place finish in 15:25.1, and the Vipers' own Dewagan gave the team another top-20 runner, further cementing Austin's place among the elite.

On the UIL 5A stage, the headline performance came from Austin Anderson's Colby Huntress, who claimed the state title with one of the most thrilling finishes of the meet. Running with the lead pack for much of the race, Huntress bided his time until the final 200 meters. Then, tapping into his devastating 800-meter speed - a blistering 1:51 PR, he surged to the front and never looked back, crossing the line in 15:06.8.

It was a perfect blend of patience, poise, and raw speed that delivered a long-awaited championship moment for both Huntress and Austin Anderson. Georgetown senior Zachary Mangum added to the Central Texas 5A resume by placing sixth in 15:29.4, further proof that the region's depth extends well beyond a single program or classification.

Cragnolino Caps Dominant Career with 5A Girls Title

The Austin-area girls also delivered in spectacular fashion, headlined by Austin LASA senior Eva Cragnolino, who flipped the script in her final UIL cross country race. Known for her trademark late-race kicks, Cragnolino instead stayed with the leaders from the gun, responding to every surge during the opening two miles. With 1800 meters to go, she made her decisive move, breaking away from the field, including triathlete Molly Garrison, Haylee Hughes, and Lilly Koenig, and holding off all challengers down the final straight.

Her winning time of 17:47.1 brought home a 5A state title and put an exclamation point on a brilliant high school career. Joining her in the top 10 was Pflugerville Hendrickson junior Morgan Nelsen, who delivered a gritty 10th-place finish in 18:18.5. With Cragnolino graduating and Nelsen returning, the torch is already being passed to the next generation of Central Texas stars.

Beyond UIL competition, the private school scene in Austin also made waves this fall at the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) Championships. In the boys' 3A race, St. Andrew's Episcopal successfully defended its title with an even more dominant performance than in 2024.

Their score of 40 points was built on a remarkable 0:45 team spread and a 17:02 average, thanks to five runners finishing in the top 12. Leading the way was senior Reed Robinson, who followed up last year's fourth-place effort with a silver medal this time around, finishing in 16:34.2. Robinson was joined by teammates Milo Amoroso, Henry Flake, Cyrus Shoghi, and Alex Sutton, who executed a textbook pack-running strategy to overpower the field. St. Andrew's didn't just win; they made a statement about program culture and long-term excellence.

In the SPC 3A girls race, St. Andrew's Episcopal nearly went back-to-back as team champions, but ultimately settled for a hard-fought second-place finish with 65 points. They were led by standout performances from Marina Abregon De la Mora, who ran 20:03.1 for third place, and Sophia Kleberg, who crossed in 21:01.2 to finish inside the top 10. It was a balanced and determined team performance that reaffirmed their place among the SPC's best programs.

The 4A SPC boys race delivered another gold medal to the Capital City, as Oscar Whiteley Bermeo of St. Stephen's Episcopal stormed to victory with a decisive move in the final stretch. His winning time of 15:55.3 capped off a brilliant junior season and marked a significant leap from his fourth-place finish in 2024. Whiteley Bermeo used a mix of patience and power to outduel pre-race favorites Will Pacey of Houston Episcopal and Andrew Wasserman of St. John's. Behind him, teammate Ben Oehler placed fifth in 16:33, helping lift St. Stephen's to a team runner-up finish with 60 points. Their scoring spread of just 1:43 and deep lineup showed that St. Stephen's has grown into one of the top private school teams in Texas.

As the dust settles on the 2025 season, it's no longer possible to overlook what's happening in the heart of the state. Austin's rise in the cross-country world is no longer theoretical; it's measurable, visible, and championship-proven. With team dynasties like Vandegrift, individual stars like Huntress and Cragnolino, and a flourishing SPC presence, the Capital City has built one of the most complete distance-running ecosystems in Texas.

The rest of the state may still dominate the conversation. But make no mistake, Austin is speaking loudly now, and it's time everyone started listening.