Miami Cross-Country Teams Excel at Region Championships
The Miami Belen Jesuit boys’ cross-country team is on a roll as they captured their 22nd consecutive regional championship this past weekend. Competing at the Region 4-3A meet held at South Fork High School in Stuart, the Wolverines showcased their strength in hot conditions, with a heat index reaching 86 degrees.
Belen Jesuit dominated the race, finishing with a perfect score of 15 points, meaning they took the top five spots overall among a field of 110 runners from 16 teams. Sophomore Armando Cruz pushed ahead in a thrilling final stretch to win individually with a time of 16:10. His teammates were right on his heels: Senior Joseph Socarras came in second at 16:10.20, followed by senior Diego Magarino in third at 16:10.30, senior Justin Ruiz fourth at 16:10.40, and sophomore Marcelo Mantecon fifth at 16:10.50.
This impressive victory means the Wolverines will head to the FHSAA State Championships again, marking their 52nd consecutive appearance. The team aims for its eighth straight state title, which would extend their record for the most consecutive team championships in any sport.
In other regional results, in the girls’ Region 4-3A race, Fort Lauderdale Dillard secured the team title with just 29 points, led by eighth grader Shynah Collins who won individually in 18:53.90. The runner-up was Lourdes with 74 points.
Moving to the Region 4-4A championships held at Tropical Park in Miami, senior Grace Finneran of St. Thomas Aquinas clinched the individual title with a time of 19:00.50, helping her team to victory as well. On the boys’ side, Miami Columbus bounced back from a previous district runner-up finish to win the title with 47 points.
The excitement continues as local teams prepare for the upcoming state championship events, showcasing the talent and determination of Miami’s high school athletes.
