Belen boys, Pine Crest girls capture titles

The Belen Jesuit boys’ cross-country team is all alone perched on top.

The Wolverines, led by Diego Gomez, Adam Magoulas and Javier Vento, not only won their third consecutive Class 3A state title at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee on Saturday, but also became the winningest program in state history.

Senior Tsion Yared led the Pine Crest girls’ team to its third Class 2A state championship in the last four years.

Yared’s time of 17:43.98 gave her a third consecutive individual title and fourth overall, tying four others for most individual titles in a career.

With Gomez (15:15.16), Magoulas (15:51.85) and Vento (15:57.36) finishing third, fourth and fifth respectively, Belen cruised to its 11th state championship, breaking a tie with Largo that had stood for 32 years. The Wolverines have won 10 state championships since 2006.

Seven runners finished in the top 30.

“We set the new mark,” said Belen coach Frankie Ruiz. “All the guts hit the board running and had a smooth landing though they ran a conservative race.”

Gomez, who finished

11th last year as sophomore at 16:16.96, cut more than a minute off last year’s time. Vento, who was the defending state champ, had returned from a sixweek absence due to a stress fracture in his left foot.

All three of Belen’s top three runners will return next year; only two runners in the top 10 will graduate.

“They all feed of off each other,” Ruiz said.

“We got close to 50 guys on the roster and know they have the depth to compete and rely on each other.

A winning culture and little things add up to be competitive and stay on top. As a coach I’ve been proud of every team collectively.”

The Pine Crest girls placed three runners in the top four to finish with 33 points.

Besides Yared’s first place, Emily Faulhaber was third (18:08.97) and Maya Beleznay (18:18.58) fourth.

“This means the means the world to me,” Yared said. “It’s been a goal for me since seventh grade. I had to dig deep to make it happen and I’m very happy with my performance. Going into the race with the experience gave me the confidence I needed. This course has been special to me.”

The depth and experience of the Panthers made the difference against the Class 2A competition.

“They ran really well and focused,” said Pine Crest coach Paul Baur. “With five seniors on the team they were ready. Tsion would not be denied. I’m proud of her winning her fourth state title.”