If you ask any of its runners, racing for the Ferguson cross-country team often requires swallowing one's own pride.

But this time of year, their patience is usually rewarded.

The Falcons gave those in attendance Thursday at Larry and Penny Thompson Park a prime example of why their philosophy has made them successful when they beat rival Columbus for the first time this season to capture the boys' team title at the Region 4-4A championship.

Columbus sophomore Armando Del Valle rolled to the individual championship with a time of 16:23.45, but three Falcons -- Raul Montoya, Joshua Estrada and Jose Estevez -- crossed the finish line behind him in that order to lift Ferguson to the victory.

The Falcons had lost to Columbus at every major meet this season, but had finished closer to the Explorers each time. Columbus entered the meet tied with Melbourne for the state's No. 1 ranking in Class 4A, according to flrun ners.com.

Both teams figure to battle with Melbourne for the Class 4A championship at next Saturday's state championships at the Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.

''Our whole program is based on progression and getting better with each race,'' Ferguson coach Ryan Raposo said. ``We set realistic goals so the kids run knowing how much they can achieve and don't try to go in over our heads.''

Lourdes continued its progression toward next week's state meet with another comfortable victory in the girls' competition. The Bobcats beat runner-up Ferguson by 74 points, led by meet champion Alessandra Valdez, who won for the second consecutive week. Her time of 19:29.02 edged teammate Victoria Villarnovo's runner-up time of 19:29.80.

Lourdes, ranked second in the state in Class 4A, will try to snap its streak of three consecutive years finishing state runner-up and win its first state title since 2004. Top-ranked Winter Park and defending state champion Jacksonville Bartram Trail figure to be the Bobcats' toughest obstacles.

Ferguson's boys, which beat Columbus in nearly every race last season leading up to a second-place finish at states, had experienced a role reversal until Thursday's meet. Ferguson ran its best race of the season, with five runners in the top 16 overall.

''This was the result of a lot of training, hard work and long runs,'' Ferguson senior Arturo Ayala said. ``Our coach believes in us and he keeps us from getting too overconfident and that's how we get better with every race.''

RESULTS

• Boys' team qualifiers: 1. Ferguson 31; 2. Columbus 52; 3. Sunset 106; 4. Hialeah-Miami Lakes 122; 5. Coral Reef 144; 6. Southwest 165.

• Boys' individual results (top 15 advance): 1. Armando Del Valle (COL) 16:23.45; 2. Raul Montoya (FER) 16:34.19; 3. Joshua Estrada (FER) 16:36.00; 4. Jose Estevez (FER) 16:36.83; 5. Jesus Rivas (HML) 16:38.69; 6. Mark Gulesian (COL) 16:42.70; 7. Alan Ortega (FER) 16:45.47; 8. Robert Rowe (COL) 16:50.48; 9. Jesteffer Annichiarico (BR) 16:53.59; 10. Dylan Cook (CR) 16:56.69; 11. Herven Seraphin (CEN) 16:59.67; 12. Jimmy Florestal (CEN) 17:00.07; 13. Osdaniel Hernandez (HML) 17:04.70; 14. Mateo Carreno (SUN) 17:05.49; 15. Miguel Delgadillo (KIL) 17:07.33; 16. Arturo Ayala (FER) 17:10.34; 17. Jorge Grajales (SUN) 17:12.53; 18. Francisco Clavijo (SUN) 17:15.07; 19. Christopher Ventura (COL) 17:15.89; 20. Andrew Shaheen (COL) 17:20.20.

• Girls' team qualifiers: 1. Lourdes 19; 2. Ferguson 93; 3. South Dade 119; 4. Southridge 119; 5. Sunset 140; 6. Killian 158.

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