Belen’s Ruiz, Lourdes’ Aguas, Carrollton’s Hermelee are Dade Cross Country Coaches of Year
It was another banner year for Frankie Ruiz’s Belen Jesuit cross country team. Meanwhile, Danny Aguas’ team at Lourdes made its mark as the top team in Miami-Dade County, while Dylan Hermelee led a resurgent season at Carrollton.
As a result, the three are the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Cross Country Coaches of the Year. Ruiz is the outright Boys’ Cross Country Coach of the Year, while Aguas and Hermelee are co-Coaches of the Year on the girls’ side.
State championships have become all but a formality for Ruiz and Belen Jesuit. The Wolverines’ Class 3A title this season was their seventh in a row and 15th overall — both FHSAA records. All five of Belen’s point scorers finished in the top 13 of the 238-runner field. Their Nos. 6 and 7 runners, for good measure, finished 41st and 54th.
But the state championship was just the beginning for Belen. Ruiz’s team went on to win the Nike NXR Southeast Regional Championship in Cary, North Carolina, two days after the state championship to qualify for the Nike NXN Nationals in Portland, Oregon, where they finished fourth.
Aguas’ Lourdes team finished third in the Class 3A girls’ meet, with each of his top-five runners finishing in the top 60 in the field. It marked Lourdes’ first top-three finish at state since 2019 and fifth top-10 finish over the past six years.
And Lourdes should be in good position to build on this season’s success. Only one of Aguas’ top five runners at state — Caro Timiraos — was a senior. Freshman Alessandra Perez paced the team with a 10th place finish, while sophomore Daniela Fraga (37th) and junior Olivia Rodriguez (38th) were also in the top 40 at state this year.
Not to be outdone, Hermelee’s Carrollton team also had a tremendous season. The Cyclones finished fifth in Class 2A. It’s a 16-place improvement from their 21st-place performance last season.
And Carrollton, like Lourdes, is returning most of its production next year. Only one of the Cyclones’ top seven runners this season — Olivia Jose — was a senior, so Carrollton’s ascension should continue in 2024.