Belen Cross Country:
Fastest Team in Florida

10/22/2026

Caarlos Cristobal | Communications Specialist

The Varsity Cross Country team continues its tradition of excellence as the postseason approaches. On October 17, the team traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, to compete in the New World Fall Spectacular. Marcelo Mantecon ’27 led the way, breaking his previous record by nine seconds with a time of 14:24 at Cecil Field Golf Course. This makes him the first high school athlete in Florida history to run a sub-14:30 5K! Armando Cruz ’27 followed closely in 14:50, and Jack Michalak ’28 finished in 14:55.

What sets the Belen Cross Country program apart is its depth. No single runner carries the team; it’s a unit of young men pushing one another to set a new standard in long-distance running. Nicholas Veloso ’28 and David Jaramillo ’29 rounded out the top five with strong times of their own, helping the Wolverines win by a comfortable 38-point margin over the second-place team. The team averaged 15:04 across its five scorers, with just 1:17 separating its first and fifth runners. That is the fastest team average in Florida high school history!

“Being able to break my own record means a lot, and it’s something I don’t take for granted,” said Mantecon. “I’m going to keep working hard and doing my job for the team. I’m also super excited about how the team has been performing, and I’m looking forward to our upcoming big races, like States and Nike Cross Nationals. We all push each other to do better because none of us wants to let the others down. Instead of running for ourselves, we run for each other.”

This performance reflects Belen’s standing on the national stage. Mantecon is ranked the nation’s No. 1 runner by both MileSplit and DyeStat, and DyeStat ranks the Wolverines fifth in the nation as a team. The team continues to show strength and deliver outstanding results from front to back. The Wolverines now turn to championship season, where they will keep pushing one another as they pursue their 10th consecutive state championship and 18th overall.