Watch these Four Florida Runners at the Brooks XC Championships at Balboa Park in San Diego this Saturday, Dec. 13th. Marcelo Mantecon of Belen Jesuit, Evan Spreitzer of Holy Trinity, Preston Sangely of Spanish River, and Madison Muller of Sarasota Riverview have all qualified and will race on Saturday. Here is a look at who they are and their resumes for this season.
WATCH LIVE: The 2025 Brooks XC Championships presented by Fleet Feet
Photo Credit: Dave Tibbetts
4th at NXN and getting a Golden Ticket to the 2025 Brooks XC Championship is Belen Jesuit junior Marcelo Mantecon.WATCH the Interview on Track-ish in which Fleet Feet COO Jason Jabaut surprised Marcelo with the first-ever Fleet Feet Golden Ticket.With this Golden Ticket, Marcelo received an automatic entry into the Brooks XC Championships to face the top 10 finishers from the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West Regional Championships.
Mantecon is one of the Top favorites to win this year's race, especially in light of his strong 4th place finish at Nike Cross Nationals. He was in contention through the 3-mile. He was virtually undefeated until Nike Cross Nationals, with his only loss coming in the 3A Regional to his teammate, Armando Cruz. He set new course records at Cecil Field, 14:50, the New World Fall spectacular, 14:33.00, and at Apalachee Regional Park in the FSU Invitational/Pre-State meet. His 14:33 at the New World Fall Spectacular set a new 5K Florida Cross Country State record.
Marcelo Mantecon's 2025 XC Resume
Evan Spreitzer took the Brooks XC South Championship in 14:52.13 with a patient, determined run, punctuated with an assertive last 300m.
Photo Credit: Garrett Olin
Evan Spreitzer was the FHSAA 1A State Champion and followed up that win by taking the Brooks XC Cross South Regional. He has six wins out of his ten races this season. He was impressive at the State meet and had a strong last 400 at NXR. He was second to Marcelo Mantecon at the FSU Invitational/Pre-state with a sub-15, 14:58 on the Apalachee Regional Park course. The Furman commit is peaking at the right time, and with the confidence from the win at Brooks South, expect him to be with the lead group through the 3-mile.
Evan Spreitzer's 2025 XC Resume
Preston Sangely's 2025 XC Resume
Madison Muller of Sarasota Riverview is one of Florida's impressive underclassmen girls. She was second in the FHSAA 4A state championships as an eighth grader and took the title this year with an impressive 17:05.44.
Photo Credit Dave Tibbetts
Muller had seven wins in 11 races this season, including her state title and running a No. 4 girls' 5K Florida Cross Country State time of 16:50.40 in her win at the FHSAA 4A Region. She has run sub-18:00 in 10 of her races and has shown she is capable of running fast on a fast course. She gained valuable experience last year and this year, and with her runner-up finish in the Brooks South Region, she has demonstrated that she is ready to add to her Florida girls' elite resume. We may see her go sub-18:00 again and finish in the top ten.