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Cordova’s Lugo a leader on and off the track

CRAIG HENDON has seen all kinds of runners during his tenure as the Cordova High School cross country/track and field coach — and he will tell you there is only one Brannon Lugo.

Lugo, the unquestioned leader of the team, is part motivator, part assistant coach and the complete package as a high school athlete.

“They all look up to him,” Hendon said of Lugo’s teammates. “He sets the bar high every time. He’s the first kid I’ve ever coached that significantly bought into running on his own. It’s different for some kids. They will run every once in a while. They will do a mile here or there. Brannon would ask me,

‘What do you want me to do this weekend?’ I would tell him and he would show me on (running app) Strava exactly where he ran. He would do anywhere from three to eight miles.”

Cordova’s cross­country program didn’t start until Lugo’s freshman year. He’s been the face of the team ever since, and that’s carried over to track as well.

“Coach Hendon talked me into it,” said Lugo, of joining the crosscountry team as a freshman. “I was playing football, too. I was a multisport athlete, but I decided to stop playing football my junior year. That’s when I really started training and taking (running) seriously.”

“I like the mental game of it,” Lugo said of running. “I like competing against myself. As a part of the team, I like celebrating with them and helping them grow and become a better runner and a better person. I wish I would have had that when I started.”

His results speak to his hard work.

Lugo’s top cross­country time, across a 5K (3.1­mile) course, is 17:13, good enough for the top 20 in Class 4A.

As for track, his best time in the 1600­meter run (just short of a mile) is 4:44, his top time in the 800m is 2:10 and his best finish in the 3,200m is 10:33.

On a typical day, you can find Lugo hard at work. He trains at the high school, downtown Cordova and the streets around his house.

“I try to get at least 35 miles per week. I try to run every day,” said Lugo, who has set some goals for his senior outdoor track season. “I hope to run under a 10­minute two mile and sub­4:30 in the mile. These are my main focuses for the season."

The state meet is set for May in Gulf Shores.

“In any event he’s willing to do, he’s at the top. Everybody knows you are going to get his max effort,” Hendon said. “I would love to have three or four more of him. In my opinion, our program isn’t where it is today without him. He’s been ranked in 5A and 4A. They had an announcement and the whole school went to the auditorium to watch the two­mile run (at state) last year. I wouldn’t have that kind of exposure with the kids if it wasn’t for what he’s done.”