Hudson 8th-Grader Just Ran The Fastest 2400 In The United States

Hudson High School has a great history of producing some of East Texas's best cross-country, distance, and mid-distance runners. Coaches Josh and Amy Stewart have built quite the Pineywoods dynasty with their distance runners. Of course, I am a bit biased since my children attended school at Hudson, but here's some proof.

Outstanding Distance and Mid-Distance Hudson Runners

• Miles O'Neill - UIL Texas gold medalist (800)
• Payton Davis - UIL Texas 2-time gold medalist (400)
• Christina Hernandez - UIL Texas gold medalist (1600 & 3200), ran at SFA
• Sam Ferrell - UIL Texas bronze medalist (1600 & 3200), ran at the University of the Incarnate Word.
• Connor Graves - UIL Texas bronze medalist (1600), currently running for the Colorado School of Mines
• Kayliegh Wagnon - Ran distance at Tulsa and Central Arkansas
• Cullen Merrell - UIL Texas bronze medalist (800), currently running at Rice University, American Conference 800-meter silver medalist (2026)
• Austin Ponder - UT Tyler Distance Runner
• Miler Stewart - 2026 Region III 1600-meter champion
• Annie Stewart - 2026 Area Champion - 800 meter

These are just a few of the outstanding distance and mid-distance athletes who have run at Hudson, but let me introduce you to another Hudson student who could be one of the best in the school's history. Adrianna Luna (she goes by A.D.) She is an 8th grader at Hudson Middle School, and she is not only eclipsing previous records set by Hudson runners, but she is also smashing them. At this past weekend's Hudson Cross-Country Invitational, she posted a time of 8:35 in the middle school girls' 2400 (1.5 mile) run.

Breaking Down What That Time Means

That time of 8:35 is the fastest 2400 time by a female middle schooler in Texas this year. As impressive as that is, 8:35 is also the fastest 2400 time in the United States in 2026. Luna's 8:35 also ranks among the top 20 best in Texas since 2000. I'm getting this information from the ranking statistics from Mile Split. It is one of the most trusted go-to sites for cross country and track & field athletes, especially for high school runners. I'm sure numerous middle school events go unreported; however, that does not lessen the phenomenal accomplishments of Luna.

Luna Is More Than Just A Phenomenal Athlete

Not only is Luna an extremely talented athlete and focused on improving herself as a runner, but she's also a fantastic young lady.  I don't know her that well, but I have talked to teachers at her school, and they tell me she's smart and a joy to teach, plus you will usually see a smile on her face or her giggling about something she finds funny. By the way, in the feature photo above, she's wearing SpongeBob socks.

I look forward to keeping track (see what I did there?) of Luna's accomplishments through her middle and high school years, as well as beyond.