Brooks XC Championship South

New Championships, same course, same stakes. The top ten boy and girl finishers this weekend at the historic McAlpine Park will advance to the first Brooks XC Championship presented by Fleet Feet that will take place at Balboa Park on December 13th. But first, they need to perform well this weekend at the Brooks South Regional. Florida has always sent a significant contingent of runners over the years: Boys Winners, Girls Winners. Marcelo Mantecon, already earned his golden ticket to the national meet, and Florida will be a big competitor again this year. Here are a few others that will keep Florida in the mix on the regional and national stage. 

There are two tiers of competitors that are scheduled to run on Saturday, Contenders and Competitors. Contenders are runners who would not surprise me if they qualify. Competitors are those more on the outside looking in, but with a good race, may slip into the Top 10.

Holy Trinity senior Evan Spreitzer is one of the favorites in the Brooks XC Regional Championship. Watch for him up front and challenging for the win.

Photo Credit: Dave Tibbetts

Boys Contenders

Three boys stand out as potential Top 10, national qualifiers heading into Saturday's race. Evan Spreitzer of Holy Trinity is at the head of the list. Other than Mantecon, who has a Golden Ticket, he is one of only five boys in Florida to go sub-15 this year. On a given day, he may be capable of winning. He has been running well and posted the second-fastest time on the Apalachee Regional Park course during the FHSAA State championship races, behind Mantcon. 

East Ridge junior Axel Sallault is ready to go sub-15:00. He is the No. 3-ranked junior in the state behind Mantecon and his teammate, Armando Cruz. He was 2nd in the 4A Championship by just 5 seconds to Sr. Preston Sangely of Spanish River.  Sangely is the third boy in contention to make the Top 10 and earn a qualifying spot to Nationals. 

Top Florida Boys Competitors

So. Madison Muller of Sarasota Riverview is one of the favorites to finish in the Top 10 and move on to the Brooks XC National Championships. 

Photo Credit: Dave Tibbetts

Top Girls

The FHSAA 4A girls' championship featured three girls who are capable of getting into the Top 10 and qualifying for Nationals. The most likely is So. Madison Muller of Sarasota Riverview, the 4A girls state champion. Muller has consistently run the low 17:00s this season and, in the 4A3 Region, ran the 4th-fastest all-time XC 5K in the state with a 16:50.40.  She is very competitive and continues to gain valuable experience.  Just behind Muller are 9th-grader Avery Hartley of Bartram Trail and Wiregrass Ranch junior, Natalia Gaona-Zelaya. Both are capable of getting under 18:00 and should be in the mix for a Top 10 finish. The fourth contender is Sr. Sienna Audrey of the Community School of Naples.  Audrey has been running well the last few weeks. She is experienced and seems to do well on the big stage. 

Top Florida Girls Competitors

Competitors