Cross Country Wins 8th Consecutive State Title
The Belen Cross Country team delivered a spectacular performance on November 16 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. They dominated the Class 3A State Championship with a jaw-dropping score of just 20 points, marking the third-lowest team score in Florida history. This victory displayed team strength and was an unforgettable moment for sophomore Marcelo Mantecon, who claimed his first individual State Championship with a blazing 14:57 time on the 5K course.
The Wolverines showcased their trademark pack running as Joseph Socarras and Justin Ruiz crossed the line in 15:33 and 15:34, finishing as the team's second and third scorers. Senior Marco Prieguez and sophomore Armando Cruz completed the top five with times of 15:36 and 15:39, respectively. As a result, Belen posted the fastest team average time of all classes, an impressive 15:28.
“I am very proud of how the members of the Cross Country team continue to do the Magis on a daily basis. Their work ethic is an example to all to emulate both in the classroom and in athletic competitions,” said Principal José Roca ‘84.
This victory extended Belen's streak to an astonishing eight consecutive Florida State Championships, adding to their unmatched total of 16 titles—the most for any high school cross country program in state history.
Next up for the Wolverines is the Nike NXR meet in Cary, North Carolina, on November 23. If they finish in the top two, they'll secure an automatic spot in the National Championship race in Portland. The road to nationals is set. Belen is ready to keep their championship momentum rolling! Click here to see the photo album from the state championship.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.