Now, the 25-year-old Northwestern High grad is aiming for a spot on the other side of country this summer as a member of Team USA in track and field, and the chance to compete in the London Olympic Games.
"Right now, I'm in training in hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Trials," Hudgins said.
Hudgins is working with James Snyder, an assistant track coach at Appalachian State where Hudgins earned a masters degree last spring. The two roomed together at the school.
Hudgins is training to compete in Oregon in the steeplechase -- a longer distance than he has competed in previously, but one he and Snyder feel will prove successful in for the trials.
"I always wanted to try it in college but none of my coaches would let me try it because of my success in the middle distance races," Hudgins said. "They saw no need for me to move up in distance."
Hudgins said that over the past several months he has been able to train at a higher level with more volume.
"The thinking is that since I have shown solid speed over the shorter distances, maybe my speed could be more lethal over some longer distances," he said.
Speed has never been an issue for Hudgins. His father, Calvin Hudgins, longtime cross country and track coach at Northwestern, recalls watching his then 10-year-old son compete in a USATF event held at Winthrop University.
"He finished 18th in the mile-and-a-half and qualified to go on to the next level at Asheville," Calvin Hudgins said. He finished 22nd there, just missing a trip to the national competition.
Under his father's guidance, the younger Hudgins developed into one of several cross country and track standouts at Northwestern, a group that includes pole vaulter and Clemson graduate Mitch Greeley, who is competing at the trials in Eugene.
After graduating Northwestern in 2005, Hudgins attended Winthrop where he was a two-time all-Big South performer in both the mile and the 800-meter run. While there, the Rock Hill native set the school record in both events.
But, in late 2007 Hudgins was diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes blood vessels to become inflamed and restricting blood flow. The disorder can be fatal if left untreated.
Doctors immediately placed Hudgins on a treatment regimen that included chemotherapy and heavy doses of the steroid prednisone. He would miss two years of training, but he earned his undergraduate degree from Winthrop.
In 2009, Hudgins enrolled in grad school at Appalachian State, and because of his illness the NCAA granted him an eligibility extension and he joined ASU's cross country and track teams.
Since his graduation from ASU, Hudgins has returned home to Rock Hill to save money to help pay for the time trials.
"Now that I am no longer with a school and don't have a big-time sponsorship, I have to pay my own way to meets, so the money I am saving at home can go to travel expenses," he said.
Hudgins said he has saved enough money to make a recent training trip on the West Coast and he competed in January in a 5,000-meter indoor event at East Tennessee State. He's also planning a trip to Virginia Tech for a meet in February.
"After those meets, me and my coach will decide whether to chase an indoor national standard or go ahead and take a very short break before making the charge for the outdoor season." he said.
Hudgins is getting some support from the shoe company Saucony, whose "Hurricane Program" provides gear to support runners. "With the sponsorship, I get a certain amount of gear and shoes free and big discounts."
Hudgins said he is also working as a substitute teacher this semester in the Rock Hill School District. Last fall he worked at an inn and restaurant in the Blowing Rock area.
"While it is not ideal, it's what has to be done if I want to chase this dream," he said.
The Hudgins family is again providing a large share of Brandon's support network.
"Its been like old times with my dad back out at my workouts on the track and I am using the high school weight room" he said. "Luckily, I have what I feel is the greatest family in the world that wants to help support me in my journey to chase this dream no matter how crazy it seems at times."
His father says his role these days is primarily from the sidelines. "I'm mainly his cheerleader now," Calvin Hudgins said. "I make sure Brandon can get in the weight room and I run the stopwatch at workouts."
The senior Hudgins said the family has blocked off several days in late June for the long trip to Oregon and will continue to support Brandon whether he makes it there or not.
"People have no clue what he went through," Calvin said, "and then to see him come back as quickly as he has is truly amazing."
