District, Regionals and State Cross Country
Kristen Ferrara
Hudson cross country - middle school and high school, boys and girls, varsity and junior varsity - dominated at district. Every Hudson team placed first, and every first place individual finish was claimed by a hornet.
With results like these, it is no wonder Coach Amy Stewart is “proud to be able to coach at Hudson.” She claims, “The girls on my team are hard working, smart, and talented girls that really put in the time and miles it takes to be a competitive team year after year.”
Christina Hernandez, who has made her “speed workouts and long runs faster and harder” by training with the boys, was the first place finisher in the varsity girls race. As team captain, Hernandez pushes “the team to view cross country not as just running but as running for a purpose,” a mindset she hopes to personally attain for the rest of the season.
Hernandez said, “This weekend at regionals, I’m hoping to defend my title. I also am hoping to advance to state with my girls. At state, I’m going for the first place finish. No cross country runner from Hudson has ever won a gold medal, so I’m hoping to make history.”
Ivan Encarnacion won gold in the boys varsity race, which he credits to “hard and extremely intensive workouts...early in the morning” and “my coach for having patience with me and the team.”
Encarnacion said, “During the races I felt really prepared and realized that all the races that I’ve done have benefited me. I would like to be top 10 individually during regionals in hope of making qualifications for state and to help my team in any form to reach their goals also.”
Ryleigh Evans placed first in the girls junior varsity race, securing her status as a freshman who will be racing varsity at regionals and hopefully state.
“I felt very prepared mentally and physically for the race,” said Evans. “I trained very hard during the summer and I expected all that effort to have me place. [At regionals,] I hope to run the best that I can and know that I have given it my all once I cross the finish line. I hope to represent Hudson well.”
Conner Guillemaud “ran for JV and got first, but my time for [the] varsity [race] was 9th place,” making him number six on Hudson’s varsity team. Since the top seven race at regionals and state, Guillemaud will be allowed to compete.
“With cross country we’ve been waking up early and running a lot, putting in a lot of time with this, so it really paid off,” Guillemaud said. “I’m honestly pretty nervous for it [regionals] but it will be really fun, and it is a dream come true. Thanks to Coach [Josh] Stewart for pushing me because you really helped me enjoy the sport to the extent that I do today.”
Coach Amy Stewart “was very pleased with the girls at district; every year I’m so proud that we can defend our title.”
Amy Stewart said, “My goal for regionals is to make it to state. We have a couple new schools/teams in our region that are very good, so being top 4 at regionals will be hard...But with everyone having their best races, we can make it! [If we do,] we are going to run like we belong there!”
The Lady Hornets placed six at regionals with an individual state qualifier, three time regional champion Christina Hernandez. The boys team placed fourth at regional meet and will be advancing to state. The boys had two individual qualifiers, Ivan Encarnacion and Gerardo Rodriquez, they will be competing with their team on Nov.12 in Roundrock.
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