Co-Captain Jamir Ferguson won the individual title, covering the 2.1-mile course in 12 minutes 22 seconds to best a field of 166 runners and cap an undefeated season. Derrick Spicer finished second in 12:55, followed by Jared Ratner in 12th (13:36), Euniel Fortunato in 13th (13:36) and Elijah Deravil in 27th (14:00). Cameron Ross also set a personal best (18:42).

For the varsity boys, co-Captain Malik Watson finished eighth out of 168 runners in a personal best 12:50. Adrian Stevenson (15:39), Mina Beckheit (17:14), Gregory Hutnik (17:37) and Michael Williams (18:13) also ran their fastest times of the season.

Girls’ Captain Caroline Williams was 27th of 117 finishers in 16:47 in the varsity girls’ race. The junior varsity girls were led by Shaddi Abdala, who was 33rd of 123 runners in a personal best 17:38, and Emily Palmeiro, who ran her season best 17:50 for 37th.

Miami Country Day top athletes

Miami Country Day: Middle School Female Athlete of the Week: Channise Lewis, as an 8th grader starting on the high school varsity basketball team, combined for 37 points, 24 assists and 20 rebounds in wins against Palm Beach Gardens, Doctors Charter, Archbishop McCarthy and Calvary Christian.

Middle School Male Athlete of the Week: Santiago Nule (soccer) combined for two goals and two assists in games against Gulliver, Marathon, Cushman and Riviera.

Upper School Female Athlete of the Week: Danielle Minott (basketball) combined for 69 points, 48 rebounds and 24 steals in wins against Palm Beach Gardens, Doctors Charter, Archbishop McCarthy, Coral Springs Christian and Calvary Christian.

Upper School Male Athlete of the Week: Brandon Parizo (basketball) combined for 87 points, 22 rebounds and 16 steals in games against Sheridan Hills Christian, Ransom Everglades, Hebrew Academy, Palmer-Trinity and Coral Shores.

Spartan Super Fan: Elizabeth Whittington (English teacher).

Scheck Hillel top athletes

Scheck Hillel Community School in North Miami Beach: Upper School Male Athlete of the Week: Albert Dichy (soccer) scored three key goals in wins against Palmer Trinity and International Studies as the high school varsity team improved to 4-0.

Upper School Female Athlete of the Week: Team captain Carli Scheck (soccer) scored three times against Archbishop Curley to secure the high school varsity team’s first district win.

Columbus baseball

Four Columbus High School senior baseball players signed NCAA Division I letters of intent during a ceremony at the school, hosted by Columbus baseball coach Joe Weber and school administrators. Signing were Bryan Garcia (University of Miami), Cristian Perez (Duke University), Lazaro Rivera (University of Miami) and Eddie Rodriguez (Lehigh University).

Miami Country Day cheerleading

With amazing leadership from senior captains Danielle Tepper and Giulia Dias Roncoletta, the Miami Country Day School varsity cheerleaders personified team, displaying tremendous team spirit.

Giulia suffered a knee injury that ended her season, so up-n-coming captain Kanesha Petit-Phar stepped up. Next season’s tri-captains are Mharlove Andre, Emmanuela Brandariz and Petit-Phar.

Conchita Espinosa sports

Alfredo Silva pitched a no-hitter, striking out eight in five innings to lead the Conchita Espinosa Academy Middle School Cougars baseball team over the Tamiami Yankees 5-1 at Bird Lake Park.

Justin Bezanilla hit an opposite field home run, driving in two runs in the third inning, and Nick Frades hit a two-run double in the fourth. This varsity team, consisting of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students, is on a 10-game win streak.

The Cougars also beat the Tamiami Tigers 12-0 at Bird Lake Park. Javier Martinez pitched a complete game shutout, striking out six and allowing one hit. Frades delivered a two-run triple in the third that broke the game open.

• The Cougars middle school boys’ soccer team defeated Heritage School 7-0. Hector Mata had four goals, and Frankie Puentes scored twice. Rodrigo Aragon added a goal. Alfredo Silva, the goalie, made two great saves.

• The Cougars middle school girls’ soccer team, 7th and 8th graders, defeated Divine Savior 4-1. Naomi Hasegawa scored twice, and Isabella Billau and Nicole Ruiz-Sierra also scored.

Events, leagues, programs

Orange Bowl swimming

Collegiate swimmers and future Olympians will compete in the Orange Bowl Swim Classic on Jan. 3 at the Jacobs Aquatic Center, mile marker 99.6 oceanside in Key Largo.

Part of a month-long Orange Bowl training session held each year in the Keys, the classic hosts some of the nation’s finest competitors. The sprint-style meet features 20 fast-paced swimming events measured by a state-of-the-art timing system.

Of more than a dozen college teams scheduled to attend winter training, eight will compete in the swimming classic including George Mason University from Fairfax, Va., University of Michigan from Ann Arbor and Dartmouth College from Hanover, N.H.

Some notable 2012 Olympians have either trained at the Jacobs Aquatic Center swimming facility or participated in the Orange Bowl Swim Classic. They include top women’s swimming medalist Missy Franklin (four gold, one bronze), three-time swimming medalist Nathan Adrian and freestyle swimmers Kate Ziegler and George Bovell who represented Trinidad and Tobago at the London games.

“Key Largo is quickly becoming a much sought-after place for training,” said Dr. Jim Boilini, event chairman, who also serves on the board of directors of the Jacobs Aquatic Center. “Key Largo’s weather, a first-class training facility, the community’s embrace and the lure of the Orange Bowl is a great combination.”

The competition is expected to start at 2 p.m. and continue until 4 p.m. Admission is free.

A post-contest awards social and dinner will commence at the Jacobs Aquatic Center following the meet. Spectators who reserve ahead can attend the dinner and interact with the swimmers and coaches. Event contact: jacobsaquaticcenter.org or 305-453-SWIM (305-453-7946).

Howard Palmetto baseball, softball

Registration for the 2013 Howard Palmetto Baseball & Softball winter season has started. Go to www.howardpalmetto.com to sign up.

The season starts in January and continues through April/May. Registration fees are $219 for baseball, $195 for softball and $185 for T-ball. Registration includes T-ball Titans for boys and girls age 4-6; baseball for boys age 6-15; high school boys’ baseball for grades 10-12; fast-pitch softball for girls age 6-17.

Games are at Evelyn Greer Park, Suniland Park, Palmetto Bay, Coral Reef and Chapman Field. Register online or for information, visit www.howardpalmetto.com.

Miami Lady Express basketball

The Miami Lady Express girls’ basketball team needs funding to continue competing in tournaments throughout the United States. The coaches volunteered to train the girls, giving them something positive to do, and the parents have been fundraising.

Travel costs, food, tournament fees and lodging are very expensive for these girls. They practice at the Keys Gate Gym in Florida City and South Dade High School where their coaches teach. Contact Coach Larry Hicks at 786-301-2577.

Tamiami basketball

The Thunder Academy Winter Youth Basketball League is now through Jan. 31 at the Tamiami Gym. Each team will have two practices and one game per week, and all practices and games will be inside the gym.

The goal of the Thunder Winter League is to teach fundamentals and principles of the game. The games will remain competitive and offer an opportunity to work in stations and learn from different coaches and coaching methods.

The cost is $250 and includes three sessions per week, uniform, division photo, drawstring bag, water bottle and wristband. Visit www.YouthBasketballMiami.com or contact Coach Rob at CoachRobCastillo@gmail.com.

Youth Rugby South Miami

The Miami Rugby Youth Division, boys age 6-18, practices 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Murray Park and Wednesdays at Palmer Park, 6120 SW 67th Ave., South Miami. Call 305-400-0134, ext. 101. Visiti www.miamirugbykids.com.

Marlins Tours

The Miami Marlins offer behind the scenes tours of Marlins Park. The tours are open to the public on non-event days for $10 a person.

The tour includes visits to the field (behind home plate), home clubhouse, home batting cage area and Diamond Club, Promenade Level featuring the art in the facility, the bobblehead museum and the premium areas including the Suites.

Tours operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except when the Marlins play at home or when other major events are scheduled at Marlins Park. Group tours, accommodating between 10 and 25 people, are available by appointment.

For information, fans can call 1-877-MARLINS or e-mail tours@marlins.com. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket windows on Felo Ramirez Drive (NW 6 Street between NW 14 Avenue and NW 15 Avenue) and are for the time and date specified.

Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

HOF baseball

Hall Of Fame Baseball is sponsoring travel baseball teams for 11-12, 13-14, 15-18 (high school) for the fall season.

Hall Of Fame Coach Rich Hofman and his staff will coach the teams which will practice and play in tournaments and leagues. Register for a tryout at www.hofball.net or call David Hofman at 954-804-5600 or Ed Tisdale at 803-463-2591.

Tennis classes, programs

Tennis classes and programs for all ages are at the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center at Sans Souci, 1795 Sans Souci Blvd., North Miami. Call for information on group lessons, annual passes, court rates and private lessons. Tennis pro is Ross Dubins. Call 305-893-7130.

Rebelle volleyball

Rebelle Athletics Club offers girls’ volleyball tryouts at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School, 4949 NE 2nd Ave.

The volleyball club, a member of the United States Volleyball Association, is under the direction of Mandi Tate, Dee Rey and former Barry University player Kelly Dantas. They are former coaches with South Florida Volleyball Club and currently coach at Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School in Biscayne Bay.

Rebelle Athletics is dedicated to providing developmental and participatory athletic sports programs beginning at the youth development level. It offers a progression of sports activities for persons of all ages, races and creeds. It strives to enhance the physical, mental and moral development of amateur athletes at all levels, promoting sportsmanship and active citizenship.

Visit www.rebelleathletics.com.

Soccer

South Kendall Sun Blazers (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Miami Dade Soccer League (miami-dadesoccer.com) at Three Lakes Park, 13375 SW 136 St. (786-488-5216).

Soccer 5 (ussoccer5.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (1-888-575-2976).

Club Atletico De Miami (camsoccer.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (305-764-5783).

Soccer Academy of the Americas (socceraa.com) at Tamiami Park, 11201 SW 24 St. (786-486-3804)

Pinecrest Premier Soccer (pinecrestpremier.com) at Deerwood Bonita Lakes, 11511 S. Dixie Hwy. (305-255-3422).

Optimist Club of Westchester (tropicalsoccer.org) at Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St. (786-370-4222).

Coral Estates Soccer Club (coralestatessoccer.org) at Coral Estates Park, 1411 SW 97 Ave. (305-279-2328)

South Kendall Soccer Club (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Southern Soccer Coalition-AYSO (kendallsoccer.com) at Millers Pond Park, 13350 SW 47 St. and Westwind Lakes Park, 6805 SW 152 Ave. (305-965-0083).

Got Milk

The National Milk Mustache “got milk?” campaign launched the call for entries for the 15th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Awards.

The SAMMY scholarship recognizes 25 student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, community service, leadership and who fuel their daily success with milk.

Milk Mustache celebrity judges will help select 25 winners from across the country who will receive a $7,500 college scholarship, an awards ceremony at Walt Disney World and an opportunity to appear in their own special Milk Mustache ad.

For complete contest rules and applications log onto facebook.com/MilkMustache where visitors can also learn more about the exclusive SAMMY awards weekend and view behind the scenes footage.

Health program

Stand Up! For Those Who Can’t, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children, families and communities through (w)holistic programs in education, culture and the arts, and as fiscal agent for the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative, has received a $50,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation to implement “Sunshine Fit for Tots,” an obesity-prevention program developed by SCWC for 3-year-old children.

“One in five preschool-age children in the United States are overweight or obese. We recognize the need to start prevention at the earliest age possible to promote lifelong habits of health and wellness,” said Mary Rae Smith, president and founder of SCWC. “We want to bend the curve on childhood obesity and are grateful to the Aetna Foundation for this opportunity to enhance obesity prevention through exercise and nutrition programming.”

Through March 2013, 60 children from four early childhood centers in Miami-Dade will receive nutritional education and obesity-prevention activities through art classes and dance lessons. The centers selected to receive the program are Fantasyland Learning Center in Westchester; Happy Kids in Miami Beach; Happy Children of Overtown; and Alberto’s Dream Childcare in North Miami.

“We thank the Aetna Foundation for awarding us this grant,” said Jeannette Egozi, president of SUFTWC. “In the United States, low-income families are the most affected by the alarming obesity trend. With these funds we can teach children how to eat healthfully and be physically active throughout their lives.”

For information about “Sunshine Fit for Tots” call the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative at 305-807-5229 or Stand Up! at 305-864-5237, e-mail jeannette@ecqc.biz.

Jai-Alai

Jai-alai is open to anyone, age 10 to 80.

With a rubber ball and cestas, the amateur jai-alai facility is at 1935 NE 150th St. in North Miami, near FIU’s north campus.

It is indoors, air-conditioned and open to all. Contact Luis at 305-389-2313 or Bob at 786-556-3574.

More Jai-Alai

Who said you have to be a male to play Jai Alai? Just as many females play the sport in Spain, France and Mexico, and gals can play it in South Florida at an amateur indoor air-conditioned fronton.

There are also leagues for males and children. Rubber or plastic balls used with free lessons by former pros. Cestas and balls also provided free with a nominal court fee.

Open everyday. Email admanUSA@aol.com or call Brucio 786-629-5428. The American Amateur Jai-Alai Academy is a not-for-profit organization.

CB Sports Leagues

CB Sports Club offers Youth Basketball, Flag Football, Youth Soccer, Adult Soccer and Adult Basketball. Visit cbsportsclub.com. Call 786-273-5639.

Physically Challenged

Miami-Dade Parks welcomes children with disabilities in its youth leagues. If you need accommodations to participate, call 305-735-7847 (V/TDD).