Belen cross-country dominates again; Ransom’s Serra, Palmer’s Stark win state titles
Belen Jesuit cross-country runners have heard it often in recent years even when being congratulated for winning another state championship.
“Oh, we knew you were going to win.”
But longtime coach Frankie Ruiz always guards his teams against complacency.
And it has kept the Wolverines at the top.
“Knowing how hard it was to win those first few state titles, we know how it gets harder every year,” Ruiz said. “The kids don’t make it seem like it is, but it almost hurts a bit when people take for granted we’d win it because I know how hard these kids work to stay on top of their game. Teams are always getting better and getting faster.”
On Friday morning at Apalachee Regional Park, Belen’s boys once again responded to the challenge by dominating the Class 3A meet to win their state-record 15th state championship and extend their state-record title streak to seven consecutive seasons.
The victory came on a largely successful day for Miami-Dade County boys’ runners.
Miami Ransom Everglades senior David “Chuli” Serra secured his first individual state championship by winning the Class 2A race with a time of 15:19.5.
And in Class 1A, Miami Palmer Trinity senior Henry Stark won that race with a time of 15:30.8.
Serra and Stark’s victories marked the first time that multiple Dade runners have won state championships since 2011 when Belen’s Elliot Clemente and Ransom Everglades’ Bert Irigoyen each won individual titles.
Belen, which entered the meet ranked No. 4 nationally by DyeStat.com, did not finish with an individual champion. That honor went to Tallahassee Leon’s Patrick Koon, who ran a time of 15:02.1. Belen still placed four runners in the top eight and five in the top 13 led by freshman Marcelo Mantecon, who was the runner-up in 15:09.9.
Senior Joshua Ruiz, a University of Florida signee who finished state runner-up each of the past two seasons, figured to be the Wolverines’ strongest contender for an individual crown. But Ruiz stumbled multiple times as he neared the finish line as he battled some glycogen depletion and cramping. He was able to finish the race, but finished eighth overall (15:51.5). His younger brothers, Joseph and Justin, finished fifth and sixth respectively. Senior Evan Torres placed 13th overall in 15:51.
“Joshua had to crawl in the last few feet, but he was ok,” Frankie Ruiz, who is not related to any of the three runners, said. “It’s good for them to see they’re not invincible because it keeps them on their toes.”
Belen ran the fastest team average time (15:51) across all four classifications.
Belen won’t have much time to celebrate another milestone victory as the team hit the road immediately after the meet. The Wolverines are competing at the Nike NXR meet in Cary, North Carolina on Sunday morning. If they finish top two, they earn automatic qualification for the national championship meet in Portland on Dec. 2.
“This is arguably the best team in state history time wise and average wise so it’s cool to see them put Miami on the map nationally since Miami isn’t considered a powerhouse area in distance running,” Ruiz said.
FIRST-TIME CHAMPS
Serra, a Wake Forest commit, became the sixth runner in Ransom Everglades history and first since Irigoyen to win a state title.
Serra, who played soccer before he became a distance runner, finished state runner-up last season. The Raiders finished sixth as a team. Jacksonville Bolles won the Class 2A team title.
Stark was the first for the Falcons since Todd Snyder in 1987 when the school was still known as the Palmer School before it merged with Trinity Episcopal in 1991 becoming Palmer Trinity. He is the third individual champion in the school’s history overall joining Snyder and Michael Reynolds (1986).
RESULTS
Winners and top 10 Dade/Broward teams and Top 25 Dade/Broward individual finishers listed
Class 4A - Team: 1. Nease 85; 3. Columbus 157; 10. Braddock 329; Individuals: 1. Riley Smith (Buchholz) 15:05.5; 4. Shamar Henry (Flan) 15:35.4; 6. Alejandro Romagosa (Col) 15:36.0.
Class 3A - Team: 1. Belen Jesuit 35; 2. Naples 146; Individuals: 1. Patrick Koon (Leon) 15:02.1; 2. Marcelo Mantecon (Bel) 15:09.9; 5. Joseph Ruiz (Bel) 15:40.2; 6. Justin Ruiz (Bel) 15:49.3; 8. Joshua Ruiz (Bel) 15:51.5; 12. Joshua Gammage (Dil) 15:56.0; 13. Evan Torres (Bel) 15:57.3; 16. Christopher Adams (STA) 16:04.4.
Class 2A - Team: 1. Jacksonville Bolles 56; 6. Ransom Everglades 265; 9. Mater Lakes 322; Individuals: 1. David Serra (RE) 15:19.5; 8. Marc Gonzalez (ML) 16:10.6.
Class 1A - Team: 1. Indian Rocks Christian 69; 3. South Florida HEAT 140; 6. Westminster Academy 216; Individuals: 1. Henry Stark (PT) 15:30.8; 3. Jonathan Pena (WA) 15:57.0; 18. Joseph Dorn (SFH) 16:28.2; 19. Augusto Caceres (SFH) 16:29.3;
