Belen is #4 nationally
Southeast region boys rankings
Belen Jesuit Prep FL 80 Southeast
McCallie School TN 100 Southeast
University High WV 120 Southeast
Calvert Hall College HS MD 140
Southeast Brentwood High TN 155
Southeast Farragut TN 160 Southeast
Vestavia Hills HS AL 200 Southeast
Indian Rocks Christian FL 205 Southeast
Westminster School GA 210 Southeast
Bolles HS FL 235 Southeast
Huntsville HS AL 240 Southeast
Christian Brothers TN 250 Southeast
Christopher Columbus HS FL 255 Southeast
Hoggard NC 280 Southeast
James Clemens AL 285 Southeast
The Top 10 Sophomore Girls To Watch This XC Season
4. Eliana Black
Cambridge Christian (FL)
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Black has been a consistent figure in the Class of 2026 since middle school.
She first made national headlines as an eighth-grader competing for the Cambridge Christian high school varsity team and clocking 17:51.29 for 5K that season.
That trend carried over to high school as the latest Florida phenom was the definition of consistency, clocking times under 18 minutes in all nine of her 5K races last season.
Of those nine contests, she won all but one of them, including an elusive title win at the FHSAA class 1A State Championships.
Her 17:15.50 best from the North Port XC Invitational last September ranks her as the second-fastest returner for the rising sophomore class in the 5K.
During the track season, Black ranked among the best in the grade for distance events with personal bests of 2:10.78 for 800m, 4:48.83 in the 1,600m and 10:30.18 for the 3,200m.
The Top 10 Senior Boys To Watch In Cross Country
3. Patrick Koon
Leon (FL)
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Setting numerous course and meet records throughout Florida last year, Koon was the man to beat in 2022.
That remains the same this fall. Not only did the Leon (FL) talent win all but one of his races in 2022, but he logged one of the fastest 5K times by a junior -- 14:43.00 -- which came in a win at the Southern Showcase.
Koon clocked three sub-15-minute performances for 5K last season, including a 14:50.00 course record at the FSU Invitational and a 14:56.70 effort for a state title at the FHSAA 3A state meet.
He'll enter his senior cross country season as the third-fastest returner at 5K and a legitimate contender for an individual national title.
Chiles returns all seven under twelve minutes for 3200 might be a team to keep an eye on in 4a.
Their girls team also made NXN in 2018
Patrick Koon #3 in these rankings
The 4-5 gap for Satellite looked big here but they were missing junior Carr who was their #3 last year.
Quick recap:
Indian Rocks Christian - very phenomenal team that won this meet and has shown that they should be able to win 1A if all of their top 5 are on. Creekside is good again with their new varsity guys but not on IRC’s level.
Bolles - has 4 juniors in their top 7. Also a 9th grader who lead the JV team. Next year’s looking good for them.
Buchholz - very solid top 4. If they have a 5th they would be so good.
Belen crushes this meet. 3 guys in the top 7 have last name Ruiz. are they all related?
Their coach’s last name is Ruiz too