Huntsville High School senior Eric Moore has been named the 2024-25 Gatorade Alabama Boys Cross Country Player of the Year, earning the prestigious honor for his excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. Moore is the first student-athlete from Huntsville High to receive this award.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program, now in its 40th year, recognizes the nation’s top high school athletes across multiple sports. Moore’s selection places him among an elite group of former winners, including professional athletes and business leaders.
Moore delivered a standout senior season, winning the AHSAA Class 7A state championship with a time of 14:52.81. His performance led the Panthers to the team title and marked the fourth-fastest time in state meet history. A three-time First Team All-State selection, he also finished as the top Alabama runner at both the Great American XC Festival (6th place) and the NXN Southeast Regional (7th place). Last fall, he set a personal best of 14:41.57 while winning the Dew It On The Trails Invitational.
Off the course, Moore excels in the classroom and the community. He holds a weighted 4.04 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. He volunteers at First Baptist Church, assembling Sunday School bags and assisting with events, and donates his time with the Huntsville Track Club, supporting local road races.
“Eric Moore experienced a dream senior campaign, not only winning the Class 7A state title with the fourth-fastest time in state meet history, but also leading his Huntsville squad to the fastest cumulative team clocking in state meet history,” said Rich Gonzalez of PrepCalTrack. “He was the state’s top performer in the biggest meets on the calendar.”
Moore has signed a letter of athletic aid to compete for the University of Virginia this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program honors one athlete in each state across 12 high school sports and awards a National Player of the Year in each category. As part of the program’s commitment to social impact, each winner also receives a grant to donate to a community organization of their choice.