Florida Boys Top 10 Subjective Rankings - Beyond the Clock
The first two weeks of the FHSAA regular cross country season are in the books. Here is a subjective and objective look at the Top 10 boys in the state at this time, based on the first two weeks (August 21-29).
The MileSplit subjective rankings only include athletes who have completed a 5K during the 2026 season. The order considers current performances, wins, head-to-head competitions, field strength, consistency, previous championship results, and course differences. Official times are not replaced by speculative converted marks. It's not only about "Who has run the fastest time?", but "Who is the best runner in Florida right now?"
As we move deeper into the season, the rankings will change. Athletes will move into and out of the top 10. Arguably the best runner in the state and the nation, Marcelo Mantecon still hasn't raced. Defending Class 2A champion Will Moss has not opened his season. Each week, it will become clearer who the top boys in the state are as we head to November.
MileSplit Florida Boys Top 10 Subjective Rankings
Current MileSplit rank by time: No. 1 - 15:06.00, 3A No. 1
Cruz has the fastest official time in Florida and the strongest head-to-head victory of the season.
The Belen Jesuit senior won the Cecil Field Summer Classic in 15:06.00, defeating a field that included Thompson, Howdeshell, Chopra and several other Top-20 runners. He was second in the 3A state meet to his teammate Marcelo Mantecon with a 15:12.70 and has a PR of 14:58. Until Mantecon opens his season or someone defeats Cruz, the top position belongs to him.
Current MileSplit rank by time: No. 2 - 15:16.00, 4A No. 1
Thompson delivered one of the biggest opening-week breakthroughs in Florida.
He placed second to Cruz at Cecil Field in 15:16.00, finishing four seconds ahead of Howdeshell. His improvement from the 16:29.60 he ran at the 2025 Class 4A state meet makes him one of the early season's breakthrough runners. He was 32nd in the 4A state finals race last season with a 16:29.60.
One race placed him among the state's leaders. His next performance and consistency will demonstrate whether he can remain there.
Current MileSplit rank by time: No. 3 - 15:20.00, 3A No. 2
Howdeshell finished third at Cecil Field in 15:20.00, giving him the third-fastest official time in Florida.
The Largo senior entered the season as an established state contender and immediately improved on the 16:01, 14th-place performance at the 2025 state meet. With Largo moving into Class 3A, Howdeshell adds more talent to the toughest boys classification in the state.
Current MileSplit rank by time: Tied for No. 6 - 15:47.00, 4A No. 4
Sallault has recorded the most consistent two-race start among Florida's leading boys.
He ran 15:47.00 at Cecil Field and matched that time exactly eight days later while winning the Whispering Pines Invitational. Repeating the same performance on two different courses strengthens his case beyond a single fast result.
Sallault also owns the second-fastest returning state-meet time behind Mantecon, giving him the résumé to support his early-season performances. He was second with a 15:27.50 in the 4A State Finals in 2025.
Current MileSplit rank by time: No. 4 - 15:39.00, 4A No. 2
Chopra finished fourth at Cecil Field in 15:39.00, producing the fourth-fastest official time in Florida.
He improved by 29.7 seconds from his 21st 4A 2025 state-meet performance (16:16.70) and finished ahead of every runner in the Cecil Field field except Cruz, Thompson and Howdeshell. He has a PR of 15:37 from New World last season.
Current MileSplit rank by time: No. 5 - 15:43.17, 4A No. 3
Olson owns the fifth-fastest official time in Florida after winning the Viking Classic in 15:43.17.
The Niceville sophomore is the youngest runner in the MileSplit performance Top 10. He was 15th in the 2025 3A State finals with a 16:10.10 and improved by 64 seconds at Cecil Field this season from 58th in 2025 (16:48.00) to 5th (15:44.00).
He is the youngest in the Top 10, and we'll watch his improvement as the season progresses.
Current MileSplit rank by time: No. 12 - 15:54.30, 4A No. 7
Kiper won the Jim Ryun FCA Invitational in 15:54.30, finishing 23 seconds ahead of the field on the challenging Holloway Park course.
He ran a conservative, team race at the Central Hillsborough Championships last weekend. His official time ranks 12th, but the decisive Holloway Park victory moves him higher in the power rankings.
Kiper, known as a half-miler, has not concentrated on XC and will eventually need a head-to-head race against some of Florida's other leading runners to remain in the top 10 or climb further. He's more than capable of running a fast 5K.
Current MileSplit rank by time: Tied for No. 6 - 15:47.00, tied 3A No. 3
Kiros opened his season with a 15:47.00 at Cecil Field, tying Sallault and Michalak for the sixth-fastest official time in Florida.
His position behind Sallault reflects Sallault's additional victory and proven consistency. Kiros, however, is one to be watched. He was 4th at the 3A state finals in 2025 (15:46.30) and has a PR of 15:21 from New World.
Current MileSplit rank by time: Tied for No. 6 - 15:47.00, tied 3A No. 3
Michalak gives Belen Jesuit three potential front-runners when Mantecon joins Cruz in competition. He is the solid No. 3 runner for Belen.
The junior recorded a 15:47.00 at Cecil Field, placing him in a three-way tie with Sallault and Kiros in the statewide rankings. He has a proven track résumé and was 13th in the 3A State finals last season. His PR is 15:44.
Current MileSplit rank by time: No. 9 - 15:49.00, 4A No. 5
Sides earns the final position after running 15:49.00, opening PR at Cecil Field.
The Buchholz junior improved considerably form his 16:31.10, 35th place finish in the 4A state finals last year.
Just Outside The Top 10
Matthew Ishee, Nease - MileSplit Tied for No. 10 (15:54.00) Ishee gave Nease a second runner among Florida's top 10 by time with his performance at Cecil Field. He is only five seconds behind the final position in the subjective rankings.
Liam Salom, Belen Jesuit - MileSplit Tied for No. 10 (15:54.00) Salom matched Ishee's 15:54.00 at Cecil Field, further demonstrating Belen Jesuit's exceptional depth.
Noah Childrey, Rockledge - MileSplit No. 13 (15:56.00): Childrey finished immediately behind the group containing Ishee, Salom, and Kiper and remains within seven seconds of the subjective rankings Top 10.
Jp Strombeck, Fleming Island - MileSplit No. 14 (15:58.00) Strombeck recorded his 15:58.00 at Cecil Field and is one of 18 Florida boys who have already broken 16:01 in the early 2026 season.
James Pfuhl, IMG Academy - MileSplit No. 15 (15:58.65) Pfuhl won the Pace Yourself Early Bird Challenge and owns one of the fastest winning times of the young season.
Douglas Seth, Flagler Palm Coast - MileSplit No. 16 (15:59.50). The sophomore won the Spikes & Spurs Classic and ran slightly faster than his performance at the 2025 Class 4A state meet (13th, 16:01.10). Watch for Seth to move up.
Kevin Aguilar, Mater Lakes Academy - MileSplit No. 17 (16:00.00) Aguilar just missed going sub-16:00 at Cecil Field and remains within 11 seconds of the subjective rankings Top 10.
Fletcher Rodbro, IMG Academy - MileSplit No. 18 (16:00.21) Rodbro placed second to Pfuhl at the Pace Yourself Early Bird Challenge, giving IMG Academy two runners among Florida's top 18.
Liam Ilea, Tavares - MileSplit No. 19 (16:00.60) Ilea cut more than 40 seconds from his opening performance at Jim Ryun (7th, 16:43.90) when he finished second to Sallault at Whispering Pines.
Landon Watkins, Sickles - MileSplit No. 20 (16:03.50) Watkins won the Ragin' Storm XC Challenge and remains undefeated through his opening race.
Mantecon and defending Class 2A champion Will Moss do not currently have 2026 MileSplit 5K rankings. They will become eligible for the subjective rankings after recording their first official performances of the season.