The Top 12 Austin-Area Runners To Watch At The UIL Cross Country Championships

The end of the UIL cross country season is officially here, and with it comes the opportunity for state championship hardware.

How does our Austin-area stack up to the competition? 

Will we see our first individual state champion in the region since Austin Vandegrift’s Kevin Sanchez (Class 6A) in 2022 and Isabel Conde de Frankenburg (Class 5A) in 2020? 

The quick answer?

There’s a chance we could get at least one.

The 2025 season has been good for Central Texas, with an array of talented runners consistently securing top outcomes over the fall. Below, we break down which runners are the top to watch.

The Top Austin-Area Boys

Griffin Hummel, Austin Bowie, Class 6A

For our money, Hummel has one of the strongest cases to win a Texas state title on Saturday. But it will be anything but easy. He’ll go up against two-time defending champion Caden Leonard of Southlake Carroll (a University of North Carolina signee), not to mention Round Rock’s Esparza, who won the HOKA McNeil Invitational in September on this very same Old Settler’s Park course. However, Hummel has been absolutely on fire over the last few weeks, winning his District 6A-26 Championship in a time of 15:15.80 and the Region 6A-3 Championship in 15:24.95. Now, what’s our prediction? We believe he saved what’s necessary for the state championships – which more than likely will require the fastest effort he’s ever put on grass (last year’s winning time in 6A was 14:50.10). Is a state title a high probability? Maybe not. But Hummel has a chance, and that’s something he should cling to. 

Grant Seade, Austin Westlake, Class 6A

Seade may not be in line to win a title, but the senior certainly has what it takes to finish within the top 10. He ran a career-best time of 15:33.40 at the District 6A-26 meet, which he later said was “a statement.” Roughly two weeks later, he was sixth at regions, further cementing himself as a top candidate in the Class 6A race. Seade will be running in his first state championship, so he’ll have to shake off any pre-race nerves.

Kai McCullough, Austin Vandegrift, Class 6A

Few runners have more experience than McCullough. He’s the top returning Austin-Area placer in 6A from 2024, where he finished sixth overall. Saturday will also mark his fourth-straight return to the state championships. This fall, he clocked a season-best of 14:41.00 over 5,000 meters at the Marcus T Invitational, and he also earned his second-straight win at districts (over Esparza). Can he put it all together and lead the race? Better yet, will he have what it takes to finish Class 6A in front? That’s the question he’s likely posed to himself, and it’s the question many others are wondering, too. As for the team race? The Vandegrift boys will work to end score their first state team title – but it may be an uphill battle.

Andrew Esparza, Round Rock, Class 6A

Outside of Hummel, Esparza may be our next-best-guess to win the top classification. The high school junior is not short on confidence, and he’s coming off a win in September at the HOKA McNeil Invitational in 15:07.50 – a precursor to state. If the race gets away from Esparza, it may be hard. But if he’s in the hunt, you have to give him a shot with that kick of his – as a sophomore, he finished the track season with a 4:13 effort over 1,600 meters.

Colby Huntress (right) is a contender for a Class 5A cross country title this weekend. Photo Credit: Cory Mull/Austin Fit Magazine

Colby Huntress, Austin Anderson, Class 5A

Huntress knows what can happen in a state championship race. The pace can go out fast, and if you don’t put in the work early, it might not matter how you finish – you’re not going to have a chance to win. We’ll see how he navigates the most important cross country race of his career on Friday. But chances are, the Austin Anderson senior will be in contention to win the 5A title. He’s coming off a runner-up finish at the Region 5A-3 Championship on Oct. 20 in 15:12.10. That was his top time of the 2025 season thus far. He’s returning to states following a sixth-place performance in 2024.

Matthew Morales, Georgetown, Class 5A

Morales was fourth at regions on Oct. 20 and generally has been a contender in every single race he’s been in over the 2025 season. With a top time of 15:32.80, he should be a threat to compete for a top 15 finish in Class 5A. Considering he was 15th a year ago, that’s not a stretch.

Eva Cragnolina, a high school senior at Austin LASA, s a returning top 10 finisher from the Class 5A state championships in 2024. Photo Credit: Cory Mull/Austin Fit Magazine

The Top Austin-Area Girls 

Caroline Strong, Austin Westlake, Class 6A

A bit of a wildcard, but a very strong wildcard. Strong is a great way to put it, too. The high school junior has emerged over the postseason, earning two straight wins at the District 6A-26 and Region 6A-4 Championships to come flying into states. She’ll need a very concerted effort at Old Settler’s Park to make that three in a row. But sometimes experience is overrated. Just run your heart out, Caroline. 

Sophia Lopez, Round Rock Stony Point, Class 6A

After an injury kept her out of the track season, Lopez has rocketed back to form in the fall, earning two sub-18:40 efforts over 30 days in September and October. She was 15th at states as a sophomore, so the competitively-charged Lopez will likely eye up a top 10 finish in the Class 6A race on Saturday.

Caroline Krupa, Austin Vandegrift, Class 6A

Krupa is in her improvement era. The high school junior was third at regions and first at districts. Earlier in August, during meet week No. 1 of the XC season, she ran a season-best of 17:37.00. How will she fare at states? Our best guess will be that she’ll chase after a top 20 finish.

Eva Cragnolin0, Austin LASA, Class 5A

Crags is the only state champion on this list. In May, she earned her first Class 6A title over 3,2000 meters during Texas’ outdoor state track and field championships. Similarly, Cragnolino will enter the cross country championships on Friday with a legitimate shot to chase after her second title in roughly five months. With Cragnolino, her best race will feature a smart strategy and a great finish. Don’t be surprised if you see the Austin LASA senior barreling down the homestretch in first. 

Morgan Nelsen, Pflugerville Hendrickson, Class 5A

Emergent would deftly describe Nelsen in 2025. The high school junior has been a revelation this fall, scoring wins at the Westlake Chaparral Invitational (over Cragnolina), the Cedar Park Invitational, and the District 5A-23 Championships. She’s clocked a top time of 17:44.50 over 5,000 meters and, perhaps unsurprisingly, she will have to deal with Cragnolina in this race on Friday. How she manages that stress will determine her outcome. The Parker Valby superfan may just channel a bit of the former Gator and NCAA champion.

Melia Flowers, Georgetown, Class 5A

The Georgetown senior, like her teammate Morales, has been in the thick of each race she’s been a part of in 2025. She was 32nd a year ago, so expect her to chase after a top 20 finish this time around. She races on Friday. 

What To Know About The UIL State XC Meet

What: The UIL State Cross Country Championships

When: Friday, October 31; Saturday, November 1

Parking: $25 for vehicles for up to two persons; $40 for vehicles up to more than two persons

For full coverage of the UIL Cross Country Championships, which will take place on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, check back with Austin Fit Magazine for stories, photos, interviews and more. We will publish our post-race interviews on YouTube, along with clips from those conversations on our Instagram page.