College Park High School Campus, Thursday, October 12, 2023
It was an unforgettable afternoon for The Woodlands High School's cross-country team as Tyler Hedgepeth clocked an impressive 15:56 to secure first place in the individual category while also propelling his team to victory in the district championship.
Top Individual Performances
Hedgepeth was closely followed by College Park's Camden Gibson who finished the 3.1-mile course in 15:59. Grayer Bates, also from The Woodlands, bagged the third spot with a commendable time of 16:07. The competition was fierce among the top runners, with only a few seconds separating them.
Other noteworthy performances include Payton Chambers of Grand Oaks HS who finished seventh with a time of 16:14 and Harris Ledbetter of Oak Ridge HS finishing eighth at 16:18. Logan Berggren of Caney Creek, Heath Grant of Willis, Joshua Upshaw of Conroe, and Carlos Merino of New Caney rounded out the top individuals for their respective schools.
Team Standings
The Woodlands High School dominated the team category, with an average time of 16:09. They were closely followed by the host school, College Park HS, with an average time of 16:14. Grand Oaks secured the third spot, finishing with an average time of 16:44.
With these results, the top three teams will advance to the 2023 Region II Championships, set to take place on Monday, October 23, 2023, at Lynn Creek Park in Arlington, Texas.
Inside the Winner’s Mind
In a post-meet interview, Tyler Hedgepeth outlined his winning strategy: "My strategy was to go to the front, see how I feel, and then gun it on the third lap." Tyler’s strategy clearly paid off, and this win was no accident. His personal record stands at an incredible 15:48, and he credited his performance to rigorous summer training. "This summer, my training was amazing. I put in more miles and focused on my diet."
A Look Ahead
The Woodlands, College Park, and Grand Oaks will now set their sights on the upcoming Region II Championships, where they will battle it out for a spot in the State Championships. All teams will be looking to refine their strategies and make any necessary adjustments in the run-up to the big event.
Congratulations to all runners and teams for showcasing an exemplary level of athleticism and competitiveness. The District 13-6A Championship was a testament to the power of preparation, teamwork, and execution, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting Regional Championship.
