FLORIDA STATE MEET

Belen Jesuit FL Wins Ninth Straight Title, But It's Unclear Whether It Was Enough To Qualify For NXN

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The 2025 FHSAA State Cross Country Championships, held at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, FL, brought together the state’s top talent for a fast, electric championship morning.

For the first time, it was held on the same day at NXR Southeast in North Carolina, meaning that teams aspiring to make the national field would need to be particularly impressive by comparison. 

Belen Jesuit junior Marcelo Mantecon, impressive all year, won the 3A boys race in 15:03.3 and led his team to a ninth straight team title. Teammate Armando Cruz was second and the team scored 49 points.

In the girls 3A race, Annabella Tomasic of Bishop Moore put together the strongest race of her career, seizing the individual title in 17:35.5, the fastest time of the weekend across any classification. The Chiles girls executed a classic 1–5 compression strategy, landing scoring runners in places 4–31 to secure the team title with 107 points, edging out Ponte Vedra squad for the title.

Will Moss of Montverde Academy delivered one of the sharpest solo efforts of the morning, storming to a 15:35.3 to take the 2A title. Bolles, meanwhile, showed why they’re a perennial powerhouse, placing all five scoring runners in the top 20 to earn a commanding 62-point victory.

One of the day’s strongest individual performances came from Selah Vignier of West Shore, who hammered from the gun and never looked back, crossing in 18:14.7 to win the 2A title.

Bishop Kenny put three in the top eight and five in the top 20 to secure the championship with 32 points, the lowest score across all classifications.

Preston Sangely of Spanish River won the Class 4A boys title in 15:22.5, but the story of the race was the resurgence of Buchholz, placing four runners in the top 15 to win with 58 points.

Madison Muller of Riverview (Sarasota) delivered a commanding win in 17:37.7, backing up her strong season with a 4A state championship. In the team race, Creekside showed depth and late-race discipline, taking the top podium spot with 136 points, narrowly edging Spanish River.

Evan Spreitzer of Holy Trinity ran a smooth, patient race to take the title in 15:16.0, but the Providence boys put on a clinic, claiming places 2, 3, 4, and 18 to win with 60 points.

In 1A girls action, Eliana Black of Northside Christian added another state title to her résumé with a decisive 17:50.0 performance. Providence secured the team championship with 132 points, edging Oak Hall.

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Class 1A – Providence boys 60 points, Providence girls 132 points
Class 2A – Bolles boys 62 points, Bishop Kenny girls 32 points
Class 3A – Belen Jesuit boys 49 points, Chiles girls 107 points
Class 4A – Buchholz boys 58 points, Creekside girls 136 points