Belen Jesuit cross-country dynasty hits new milestone led by resilient senior
Miami Belen Jesuit runner Adam Magoulas had designs on winning an elusive state individual cross-country title entering his senior season.
He got off to a great start, setting a school record when he won the Spanish River Invitational in 14 minutes and 57 seconds back in September.
But when Magoulas injured the fourth metatarsal bone in his foot midway through the season, those plans took a hit.
Magoulas would not walk away with the individual title or even become the top finisher on his own team at the Class 3A boys’ state meet Friday morning at Apalachee Regional Park. That honor went to sophomore Joshua Ruiz, who would secure the runner-up spot.
But Magoulas’ perseverance through a difficult couple of weeks to get back in racing shape embodied the consistency of a Belen program, which once again accomplished a major milestone.
The Wolverines secured their state-best 13th state championship and their fifth in a row. The streak tied the state record held by Tallahassee powerhouse Maclay.
“It was a big accomplishment for us as a program because we had won four in a row before but had never been able to get to a fifth,” Belen coach Frankie Ruiz said. “It matters because it shows the program has more in mind for the future and that it keeps going beyond the four years worth of seniors.”
Despite missing six weeks of training time and competition, Magoulas placed ninth with a time of 16:16.1. His teammates Evan Torres (16:16.9) and Alec Torrecilla (16:19.5) placed 10th and 14th respectively. Roberto Leon (16:24.2) and Julian Rodriguez (16:25.2) finished 17th and 19th respectively as well as Belen placed six runners in the top 20.
Magoulas has been a key part of all five championships, and was again on Friday.
Joshua Ruiz, no relation to his coach, ran a time of 15:37.4 to finish 14 seconds behind Tallahassee Leon’s Patrick Koon, who won the individual title in 15:23.8.
Ruiz represents the future of the program, along with Torres, Torrecilla and Leon, who all return next season. Frankie Ruiz credited Magoulas for setting an example of perseverance and leadership for all of them to emulate.
“Adam is a cornerstone of the program,” Ruiz said. “Just being out here and stepping across that line. That’s more of an example by him doing that especially after coming back from an injury like he did. That was something special.”
OTHER NOTABLES
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas’ Martin Goodwin placed fifth in that Class 3A race and Fort Lauderdale Dillard’s Joshua Gammage placed eighth. Miami Columbus placed fourth in the Class 4A boys’ meet — the highest finisher among South Florida teams.
Class 4A boys’ team: 1. Viera 104. Top 10 Dade/Broward finishers: 4. Columbus. Boys’ individuals: 1. Rheinhardt Harrison (Nease) 15:03.6. Top 15 Dade/Broward: 11. Ryan Sarafoglu (CR) 15:59.8.
Class 3A boys’ team: 1. Belen Jesuit 42. Top 10 Dade/Broward finishers: 4. St. Thomas Aquinas 204. Boys’ individuals: 1. Patrick Koon (Chiles) 15:23.8. Top 15 Dade/Broward finishers: 2. Joshua Ruiz (Bel) 15:37.4; 5. Martin Goodwin (STA) 15:57.0; 8. Joushua Gammage (Dil) 16:12.9; 9. Adam Magoulas (Bel) 16:16.1; 10. Evan Torres (Bel) 16:16.9; 14. Alec Torrecilla (Bel) 16:19.5.
Class 2A boys’ team: 1. Jacksonville Bolles 67. Top Dade/Broward finisher: 11. Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 388. Boys’ individuals: 1. Nicholas Carpenter (Trinity Prep) 15:24.2; Top 15 Dade/Broward finishers: 14. Felipe Cardenas (RE) 16:12.5.
Class 1A boys’ team: 1. Indian Rocks Christian 106; Top 10 Dade/Broward finisher: 7. Palmer Trinity 281; Boys individual: 1. Matthew Stratton (SJCD) 15:40.2.