High Schools, Other Sports

Austin sweeps UIL 5A cross country titles as LASA’s Cragnolino repeats and Anderson’s Huntress claims first gold

By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

LASA’s Eva Cragnolino smiles as she crosses the finish ine in first place at the 2025 UIL cross country state championships on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

ROUND ROCK — Austin runners swept the podium at the UIL Class 5A state cross country championships on Friday.

Austin LASA’s Eva Cragnolino repeated as girls champion, while Austin Anderson’s Colby Huntress capturing his first boys title to give area both individual gold medals at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock.

Cragnolino, the 2024 state champion, went straight to the front in the girls race and never faded, crossing in 17:47.1 to defend her crown and cap another undefeated postseason. She will run cross country at the University of Washington in Seattle next year.

“I really wanted to win this one, last year’s felt different because it was my first one, but I really wanted come in and repeat,” Cragnolino said. “I knew I was going to win when I hit the home streatch, but I felt it in the last 800 meters. I felt good and started pulling away.”

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Other standout girls’ performances include:

  • Smithson Valley seniors Lilly Koenig (4th, 17:57.0) and Aubrey Pozzi (6th, 18:08.3) both placed in the top 10, pacing the Rangers to a second place finish in the girls race. .
  • New Braunfels junior Savanah Moya took 7th in 18:14.8, while teammate Ava Briley finished 20th in 19:02.0.
  • Georgetown senior Melia Flowers ran 23rd in 18:51.5, leading a solid effort for the Eagles.
  • Leander, making its first girls state meet appearance since 1980, was led by senior Ava Tannehill in 36th (19:04.4), followed closely by teammates Kristi Lopez, Kate Salazar and Camry Ojeda.
  • Hendrickson junior Morgan Nelsen placed 10th in 18:18.5, marking one of the top local individual showings.
  • McCallum senior Julia Lentz closed her career with a strong 19:38.0, good for a top-65 finish.
Anderson’s Colby Huntress stands on the awards stand after winning the boys race at the 2025 UIL cross country state championships on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

On the boys side, it was another Austin name at the top, and one closely tied to Cragnolino.

Huntress, who trained alongside Cragnolino and attended LASA before transferring, surged ahead in the final mile to win in 15:06.8. The victory marked his first state championship.

“This feels great,” Huntress said. ” The last two seasons, I’ve hit some road blocks with an injury my sophomore year, and I got mono last year. So this feels good to finish out my high school career and win this.”

Georgetown had a big day behind Zachary Mangum (6th, 15:29.4), with Matthew Morales (19th, 16:18.9) and freshman Lincoln Sypniewski (27th, 16:27.2) giving the Eagles three inside the top 30.

East View’s Brayden Lazenby (32nd, 16:17.8) and Kingston Wilson (44th, 16:44.2) led the Patriots’ pack, while LASA’s Joaquin Gonzalez (12th, 16:05.0) anchored a deep Raptor squad that also placed multiple runners in the top 100.

See full results here.