Belen cross-country 12th at nationals. Mantecon, Ruiz nab state honors. Plus basketball and soccer
Marcelo Mantecon, a sophomore from Miami Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, and Mackenzie Roy, a senior from Spruce Creek High School, have been named the 2024 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. and Miss Cross-Country, respectively, in a vote by the state’s cross country coaches.
In addition, Frankie Ruiz of Belen Jesuit was named the state boys’ cross-country coach of the year, and Jackie Hardin from Jacksonville Bishop Kenny High School won the girls’ coaching award.
Mantecon won the Class 3A boys’ state title with a winning time of 14:57.8, the fastest time among this year’s boys’ state title winners. The other three state champions on the boys’ side, Gino Palazzolo of Gainseville Buchholz (4A), Parker Adams of Jacksonville The Bolles School (2A) and Blake Young of Largo Indian Rocks Christian (1A) were named Runner of the Year for their respective classification.
Ruiz led Belen Jesuit to its eighth consecutive boys’ championship, winning the Class 3A title by placing five runners among the top seven finishers for a team score of 20 points, 124 points ahead of runner-up Tallahassee Chiles High School.
State title-winning coaches Patrick Douma of Buchholz (4A), Tyler Stowell of Bishop Kenny (2A) and Jeff Vargas of Tampa Cambridge Christian (1A) each claimed Coach of the Year awards for their respective classifications in boys’ cross-country.
ALSO: Roy won the Class 4A girls’ state title with a time of 17:19.5, nearly 40 seconds faster than all the other girls’ class winners. The other girls’ state champions, Masha Dorofeev of Fort Myers (3A), Margaret Bartlow of Panama City North Bay Haven (2A) and Mary Summers of Lecanto Seven Rivers Christian (1A) were named Runner of the Year in their classifications.
Hardin led the Bishop Kenny girls’ squad to its third consecutive Class 2A state title with 88 points. Mandy Yates of St. Johns Creekside (4A), Jeff Cannada of Ponte Vedra (3A) and Jeff Vargas of Cambridge Christian (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 33rd year of these unique awards as it honors the state’s top athletes and coaches in FHSAA sanctioned and recognized 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.
More cross-country
The 2024 Belen Jesuit boys’ cross-country team wrapped up an outstanding season by finishing 12th at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon.
Having remained unbeaten throughout the season, the team faced its toughest challenge yet at the Glendoveer Golf Course, where the competition and the course conditions pushed them to their limits. The race featured 22 of the nation’s top teams -- national qualifiers -- vying for the title at the sport’s only national championship event.
Though Belen aimed for a spot on the podium, the team’s goal will have to wait until next year. This marks the third consecutive year Belen has qualified for the prestigious race and the fourth time in the program’s history.
Leading the charge for Belen was Marcelo Mantecon, who navigated the muddy, hilly 5K course in an impressive 15:44 for 15th overall. He secured the top spot for his team and also earned recognition as the top sophomore finisher, while gaining All-American status.
Colorado Niwot won the national championship team title. Senior Charlie Vause of New Mexico Southwest won the individual title in 15:28.
Soccer
Miami LaSalle girls’ soccer (7-3) won two more games, including a 1-0 victory over Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, with Sofia Cruces scoring the winner.
Goalkeeper Olivia Rodriguez-Salum recorded two more shutouts; she has six this season.
William Obando and Omer Gan-El each scored as Miami Krop boys’ soccer (3-1-1) edged North Miami 2-1.
▪ BOYS: Fort Lauderdale 3, Cardinal Gibbons 2: CG: Deven Garcia 1 goal; Eugene Gibbons 1 goal; Brennanon Flagg 1 assist; Luigi Olivieri 1 assist. CG 4-3.
▪ BOYS: Coral Gables 5, Varela 1: Lek Rodriguez 2 goals; Sky Carrizo 1 goal; Santiago Bergonzi 1 goal; Piero Ramos 1 goal; Anthony Marrero 1 assist; Mateo Blatchke 1 assist; Johnathan Cubas 1 assist; Jaden Cespedes 1 goal. CG 4-2.
▪ BOYS: Krop 2, North Miami 1: William Obando 1 goal; Omer Gan-El 1 goal; Nicolas Wieciorovski 2 assists; Gkp Tiago Latorre. Krop 3-1-1.
▪ GIRLS: LaSalle 1, Archbishop McCarthy 0: Sofia Cruces 1 goal; Gkp Olivia Rodriguez-Salum 5th shutout. LaS 6-3.
▪ GIRLS: LaSalle 3, Chaminade-Madonna 0: Isa Studenski 2 goals, 1 assist; Aranxta Santacana 1 goal; Natalie Islami 1 assist; Anna Baez 1 assist; Gkp Olivia Rodriguez-Salum 6th shutout. LaS 7-3.
Basketball
▪ BOYS: Belen Jesuit: 53, Gulliver Prep 52 (OT): Alec Arnholt 14 pts, 3 asts, 6 rebs; Javi Vasseur 13 pts, 3 rebs; Orlando Roche 10 pts, 2 asts, 4 rebs; Lucas Diaz 9 pts, 3 asts, 2 rebs; Mikey Valdes 6 pts, 4 asts, 6 rebs. Bel 4-0.
▪ GIRLS: North Miami 70, Miami Beach 37: J’adore Hayes 29 pts, 9 rebs, 2 asts, 3 stls, 1 blk; Alijah Rene 14 pts (2-3 3-ptrs), 2 rebs, 3 stls, 2 asts; Lailah Willis 8 pts, 4 rebs, 1 stl; Donnesha Morency 6 pts, 10 rebs, 10 asts; Tiana Fleurima 4 pts, 3 rebs, 2 asts. NM 7-1.
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For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
