Belen’s Mantecon excels again, wins award. Plus DC hoops, MB soccer, Somerset wrestling
Marcelo Mantecon of Belen Jesuit capped another remarkable chapter of his historic season by finishing second, a very close second, at the prestigious Brooks Fleet Feet Cross-Country Championships in San Diego.
Racing to the edge of a national title on the demanding, hilly Balboa Park course, Mantecon ran 15 minutes 10.9 seconds, just 0.2 seconds from first place. It marked the closest finish in the more than 40-year history of this race.
Mantecon, a junior, took control early, rolling in first through the first mile in 4:48.8 and the two-mile mark in 9:50.50, setting the tone for a race that demanded both patience and conviction.
Understanding exactly what the moment required, Mantecon pressed the middle portion of the two-loop 5K course, intent on dulling the power of finishing sprint of the field’s top finishers. He surged at the base of the second climb of the steepest hill, which features a 15-percent grade, opening roughly a 20-meter gap.
When Utah’s Jackson Spencer, a senior at Herriman High School, made his move at the top of the downhill, Mantecon stayed composed and refused to let the race slip away.
With about 400 meters remaining, Mantecon responded, reclaiming the lead and forcing the outcome to be decided in the final stretch. Spencer countered once more, and Mantecon answered with a relentless final 100 meters, emptying the tank all the way to the line.
Mantecon, who finished first at FHSAA State Championships in Tallahassee and fourth at Nike Nationals in Portland, secured the first Golden Ticket to auto-qualify for the Brooks Fleet Feet Championships in San Diego, where he closed one of the most decorated and unforgettable seasons in Florida and Belen cross-country history. Mantecon ran a 15:03 at state, the fastest time in all classifications. He is also the fastest runner in the history of Florida high school cross-country.
The Brooks Fleet Feet Championships, formerly known as the Foot Locker Championships, is among the most storied events in cross-country, with more than 90 Olympians having competed in past editions, all contested on the same demanding course.
Only 50 runners earn invitations to what is widely regarded as the national championship for individuals. The last Belen runner to compete at this meet was Elliot Clemente in 2011.
Mantecon will now take a brief break before beginning preparations for the upcoming track season.
Cross-country award
Yes, what a season for Belen Jesuit runner Marcelo Mantecon, and the Florida Dairy Farmers recognized him again as the state’s Mr. Cross-Country.
Mantecon, a junior from Belen Jesuit, and Anabella Tomasic, a freshman from Bishop Moore Catholic High School, are the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. and Miss Cross Country, respectively, in a vote by the state’s cross-country coaches.
In addition, Patrick Douma of Buchholz High School was named the state boys’ cross-country Coach of the Year and Jackie Hardin from Bishop Kenny High School won the girls’ coaching award.
Mantecon was named Mr. Cross Country for the second consecutive year, after repeating as the Class 3A boys’ state champion with a winning time of 15:03.3, the fastest time among this year’s boys’ state title winners.
Tomasic won the Class 3A girls’ state title with a time of 17:35.5, the fastest time among this year’s girls’ class winners.
The other three state champions on the boys’ side, Preston Sangely of Spanish River (4A), Will Moss Jr. of Montverde Academy (2A) and Evan Spreitzer of Holy Trinity (1A) were named Runner of the Year for their respective classifications.
The other girls’ state champions, Madison Muller of Sarasota Riverview (4A), Selah Vignier of West Shore (2A) and Eliana Black of Northside Christian (1A) were named Runner of the Year in their classifications.
Douma led Buchholz to its second straight boys’ championship, winning the Class 4A title by placing three runners among the top seven finishers for a team score of 58 points, 45 points ahead of runnerup Oviedo High School. State title-winning coaches Frankie Ruiz of Belen Jesuit (3A), Steven Stam of The Bolles School (2A) and Jeanie Jackson of Providence (1A) each claimed Coach of the Year awards for their respective classifications in boys’ cross-country.
Hardin repeated as Girls’ Coach of the Year after leading the Bishop Kenny girls’ squad to its fifth consecutive Class 2A state title by placing five runners in the top 11 finishers for a team score of 32 points. Mandy Yates of Creekside (4A), Tiahna Vladic of Chiles (3A) and Jeanie Jackson of Providence (1A) won Coach of the Year awards in the other girls’ cross-country classes.
The Florida Dairy Farmers High School Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to the state’s youth. This marks the 34th year of these unique awards as it honors the state’s top athletes and coaches in all FHSAA sanctioned sports. The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
Basketball
The Dade Christian boys’ basketball team is off to its best start in school history, undefeated at 12-0.
In the Warriors’ last three victories, junior shooting guard Gabriel Alonso averaged 31 points per game. He had 19 points (2 3-ptrs) and 4 rebounds against American; 32 points (6 3-ptrs) and 5 rebounds against Miami Jackson; and 43 points (8 3-ptrs) and 5 rebounds against North Miami.
GIRLS: North Miami 49, North Miami Beach 38: Rayna Benoit 16 pts, 6 rebs, 2 stls; Shaneika Maxenat 13 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls; J’adore Hayes 9 pts. 10 rebs, 3 asts, 2 blks; Donnesha Morency 5 pts, 12 rebs, 5 asts, 2 stls; Lailah Willis 4 pts, 3 rebs. NM 7-1.
GIRLS: Palmer Trinity 70, Westminster Christian 51: Esparza 19 pts, Nieves 8, Laria 16, Wright 17, Sullivan 4, Rivero 6. 3-Ptrs: Rivero 2, Esparza 1, Nieves 1, Wright 1. Rebounds: Wright 15. Steals: Laria/Esparza 3. Blocks: Sullivan 2. Assists: Esparza 6. PT 8-2, WC 6-2.
Wrestling
Somerset Academy Pembroke Pines boys won the Coach Kelly Memorial Wrestling Tournament at Manatee High School.
The Panthers went 7-0 in the team competition to improve to 13-0 on the season.
Somerset’s Dylan Fernandez (138) was named the Most Outstanding Wrestling.
Team scores: Somerset 69, Parrish 11; Somerset 51, Lemon Bay 20; Somerset 70, Toho 12; Somerset 69, Newsome 11; Somerset 76, Island Coast 5; Somerset 68, Manatee 3; Somerset 33, Zephyrhills Christian 32 (tiebreaker).
Soccer
Belen Jesuit and Miami Beach each reached the 10-win mark in boys’ soccer, before the holiday break.
BOYS: Belen Jesuit 2, Florida Christian 0: Andres Abreu 1 goal; Andres Lopez-Gottardi 1 goal; Carlos Lopez-Seda 1 assist; Gkp Santiago Fernandez shutout. Bel 10-2-3.
BOYS: Belen Jesuit 1, Gulliver Prep 1: Bel: Sebastian Barrientos 1 goal; Andres Abreu 1 assist. Bel 10-2-4.
BOYS: Coral Gables 2, Mater Academy 1: Aliksandros Adams 1 goal; Joaquin Gamarra Duran 1 goal; Gabriel Debritto 1 assist; Nelson Villamar 1 assist. CG 6-3-3.
BOYS: Miami Beach 3, North Miami 0: Ignacio Bustillo 2 goals; Edison Lopez 1 goal; Valentino Levy 2 assists; Joshua Zephyrine 1 assist; Kingsley Cospolite 10th shutout. MB 10-0-2.
Submit sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity sports results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. You will be alerted when it will appear.
Also, some will be considered athlete of the week nominations.
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Compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
