14:33 - Another Impressive Run by Marcelo Mantecon

The start of the Elite boys' race at the New World Fall Spectacular.

Photo Credit: Cedric Gillette 

BOYS INDIVIDUAL RACE

On a day that saw 53 boys run Sub-16:00, Marcelo Mantecon of Belen Jesuit was impressive as he led the way, setting a new Florida All-Time XC 5K record of 14:33 at the New World Fall Spectacular. The junior, on a cool, breezy day, with the course wet, but not muddy from the rain overnight, continued to add to his high school resume, as perhaps the top distance runner in Florida history, with the record-setting run. Mantecon, the consummate team leader, ran with a different strategy; instead of leading the team, his race strategy was to run his race as an individual,  and allow the team to race on their own. He took the lead from the start, pressing the pace as it became evident that he was chasing the course record of 14:45 set in 2021 by Nease's Rheinhardt Harrison.

He got a little help from Chiles HS senior Joshua Hicks, who pushed Mantecon early in the race and stayed within contact through the first mile.  Hicks went on to finish second, running a 14:57, to become one of only eight boys who have run sub-15 on the New World Course. 

Senior Evan Spreitzer of Holy Trinity (right), senior Preston Sangely of Spanish River (left), and senior Diego Eseverri of Columbus (center) finished No. 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

If you go by the team rankings based on the individual times that have been run so far this season, the IMG Academy boys have the top spot in the rankings, followed by the Belen Jesuit, Nease HS and Spanish River holding the No. 5 spot. Yesterday, the IMG team demonstrated just how good they might be.  Competing without their top runner, Matthew Dodds, who is out with an injury, the IMG boys took the team title with 90 points in an impressive win over Belen, Nease, and Spanish River.

The IMG squad was led by sophomore sophomore Fletcher Rodbro who finished 11th in 15:21. Rodbro led the team that had all five of its scorers run under 16:00 minutes. 

Senior Pedro Ferreira de Abreu (left) and junior James Pfuhl of IMG with senior Michael Girard of Viera HS at the finish. Girard was 13th (15:26), Ferriera de Abreu 14th (15:27), and Pfulh 15th (15:28).

TOP FOUR TEAMS

The course record did not fall in the highly anticipated girls' elite race; however, the race had eight girls run under sub-18:00 and 49 girls run sub-19:00.  Freshman Annabella Tomasic of Bishop Moore, hampered by shin splints over the last few weeks, went out hard and took control of the race before the first mile.

Sophomore Natalia Gaona-Zelaya of Wiregrass Ranch, 

Freshman Mary Summers of the Seven Rivers Christian School