Belen Wins Class 3A District 16 Varsity Track and Field Title
For the first time since 2016, the Wolverines captured the Varsity Track and Field Class 3A District 16 title on April 16 with a convincing performance and a final score of 168.5. Though a strong Miami Northwestern team proved to be tough competition, key performances in individual events and a win by the 4x800 team were enough to put the Wolverines on top and capture the title by the end of the day at Traz Powell Stadium.
“We’re proud of the boys’ hard work. We had key contributions from everyone on the team and the result is the district title,” said Track and Field Head Coach Victor Arrieta.
Belen’s individual champions included Don Chaney in the high jump, who posted a 1.77-meter jump; Alexander Blanco in the pole vault, with a 3.53-meter vault; Sebastian Roa in the 1600, with a time of 4:33.54; and Diego Gomez in the 3200 with a time of 9:47.08. In the 4x800, the combined runs of Sebastian Roa, Michael Sanchez, Sebastian Castillo and Aiden Villasuso gave the Wolverines a time of 8:09.25 and a near 7-second finish over Miami Northwestern.
Top-8 finishes by Belen individuals included Don Chaney in the 100; Sebastian Roa, Aiden Villasuso, Michael Sanchez and Sebastian Castillo in the 800; Diego Gomez, Lucas de la Hoz and Matthew Bryan in the 1600; Javier Vento, Christian Fernandez, and Giancarlo Benitez in the 3200; David Leiva in the 110 Hurdles; Stefan Todywala in the long-jump; John Lee and Sebastian Castillo in the triple jump; Lukas Escapil and Nicholas Patricios in the shot put; and Nicholas Patricios, Lukas Escapil and Nicolas Muniz in the discus toss.
Top-8 finishes for Belen team events included the 4x100 (Don Chaney, Alfredo Huete, Stefan Todywala and Bryan Bjorkman); and the 4x400 (Aiden Villasuso, Sebastian Castillo, Michael Sanchez and Henrique Souza).
"The Belen Jesuit Track and Field team was established in 1920 and has had a long tradition of winning,” said Principal Jose E. Roca ‘84. “This is the school's 28th district championship and first since 2016. I am proud of our track and field athletes and coaches and I like our chances at the Regional and State meets."
With their results, several Belen athletes qualified for the Class 3A Region 4 competition at South Fork High School in Stuart, Fla. on April 27. Best of luck Wolverines!
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.