Gibson’s individual victory boosts team to top in UIL 13-6A competition
The Woodlands, Texas – Friday, October 11, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
By The Woodlands Student Center Staff
College Park High School’s Cavaliers emerged victorious at the 2024-2025 UIL District 13-6A Boys Cross Country meet, held Thursday, October 10, at their home campus in The Woodlands.
The Cavaliers took home the district title with a strong team performance, led by individual district champion Camden Gibson, who bested competitors from The Woodlands, Oak Ridge, Grand Oaks, Conroe, Caney Creek, Willis, and New Caney High Schools. Gibson’s impressive pacing and the team’s well-coordinated effort made for an exciting, competitive race.
The race began with runners setting off from College Park’s soccer field. The course quickly transitioned into the wooded trail portion of the course, where the pace picked up significantly as runners navigated the shaded, winding paths. The wooded section posed a unique challenge, forcing runners to adapt quickly to the twisting course and manage their energy effectively. Gibson initially settled into second place behind The Woodlands’ Tyler Hedgepeth, pacing himself with a first-mile split of 5:02. As the trail opened up, he seized his moment, picking up speed and moving into first with a second-mile split of 4:52, pushing forward with increasing confidence.
Emerging from the trail, runners entered College Park’s 400-meter track for the final leg—a 300-meter sprint to the finish line. With fans cheering in the stands, Gibson powered down the track, crossing the finish line at 15:17.01 and capturing the individual district title. His teammate, Yannick Broos, maintained his position through the trail’s twists, finishing third with a time of 15:28.80, adding valuable points to the Cavaliers’ team score. Hedgepeth from The Woodlands finished closely in second at 15:23.02, following his early lead in the race.
College Park’s team depth was key to their success, with other runners like Kaden Barney and Maxwell Chan securing top-10 spots that further strengthened the team’s position in the standings. Barney and Chan’s consistent pacing through the dense trail section demonstrated the Cavaliers’ preparation for the course's diverse terrain.
Across the board, runners from each competing school tackled the course’s varied elements with grit. Caney Creek’s Logan Berggren finished strong, placing 11th with a time of 15:59.43, while Conroe High’s Joshua Upshaw clocked in at 16:10.24 for 13th place. Cole Williams of Oak Ridge maintained a steady pace, finishing in 16:33.09, while Grand Oaks’ Elie Smith crossed in 16:24.21 to take 15th. Willis’s Ernesto Rodriguez and New Caney’s Xavier Perales also delivered respectable performances, showcasing each school’s commitment and effort.
The Cavaliers’ exceptional teamwork and individual performances ultimately secured both the district team and individual titles, celebrating a day of competitive spirit and camaraderie among the district’s athletes.
Top 3 Individual Finishers:
1st – Camden Gibson, College Park – 15:17.01
2nd – Tyler Hedgepeth, The Woodlands – 15:23.02
3rd – Yannick Broos, College Park – 15:28.80
Top 3 Team Finishers:
1st – College Park High School, average time: 15:33.98
2nd – The Woodlands High School, average time: 15:39.99
3rd – Grand Oaks High School, average time: 16:21.30
The top performers of the district championship have earned an invitation to the 2024 Region II Championship, set for Tuesday, October 21, at Lynn Creek Park in Arlington, Texas.
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