* The Belen Jesuit boys (inset, middle, blue uniforms) on the line at Nike Cross Nationals in 2022
- - -
Down in the Sunshine State, no program boasts a better résumé than the Wolverines of Belen Jesuit.
Head coach Frankie Ruiz and his boys have won 13 state titles since he took over in 2003 and they are looking for their seventh straight title next month -- no other Florida program has claimed more than 10 state titles.
On top of that, sprinkle in Belen Jesuit's six individual state titles and their two Nike Cross Nationals berths and you have the most dominant team in Florida. You also have the most talented team in the Southeast region.
In 2022, Ruiz and the Wolverines made it out of the Southeast Regional for the first time since 2011, qualifying for NXN in Portland.
On an uncharacteristically sunny December morning, the six-time defending FHSAA 3A state champions finished 16th in the country, led by then-eighth grader Marcelo Mantecon.
This year, five out of those seven runners are back and hungry for more, and they're well-aware that they have the pieces and the potential to do big things this time around on the Glendoveer Golf Course.
The Building Blocks Of Success
Since late August, Belen Jesuit, currently ranked No. 4 nationally by MileSplit, has been racing the Southeast region's best and dismantling them week after week.
In the Wolverine's season opener at the Kowboy Invitational, the squad put together a perfect score and then added one more, going 1-6 for good measure.
Long-story short, this team has won all five meets they've traveled to, including the Southern Showcase and the Great American XC Festival, both of which saw fields of over 38 total teams and hundreds of runners.
On average, Belen Jesuit is winning by 76 points every week and flashing an average spread of 45 seconds, which makes the team that much more difficult to keep up with.
There are a handful of factors that play into Belen Jesuit's display of authority, but you could argue it's the team's consistent low-stick duo of Joshua Ruiz, a Florida commit, and freshman sensation Marcelo Mantecon.
For example, in each of their five races this fall, Ruiz and Mantecon have both finished in the top five spots on three different occasions. The pair has been featured in the top 11 all five weeks.
Behind them, Joseph Ruiz, Justin Ruiz, Evan Torres, Diego Magarino and Joseph Socarras have been interchangeable in the 3-4-5 spots all year, flexing their depth and showing just truly how talented each athlete is.
But what does it take for a team to get to this level of ability? Is it solely their in-season workouts, or maybe their summer base mileage?
Having a group of guys that can all run under 15:30 on any given day is definitely an advantage, but Belen Jesuit didn't reach this level of dominance solely because on the way the team trained.
Much of that success can be tied to the culture the team has built in Miami.
* Belen Jesuit runs during their month-long trip to Flagstaff, AZ over the summer
Photo Credit: Submitted
All Roads Lead From Flagstaff
Over the years, coach Frankie Ruiz has taken his program on the classic summer training trip.
Whether it's been stops in Oregon, North Carolina, or Colorado, the Wolverines have seen it all.
But in 2021, after Northern Arizona had reached out to one of his athletes, he thought of Flagstaff, Arizona.
Located at high elevation, the city is considered one of the go-to training hubs for the world's best distance athletes. This past summer, coach Ruiz and around 24 athletes spent a month total in Flagstaff, with some staying the entire duration of the trip and others heading back early or some arriving late.
They spent their mornings on the longer or more intense sides of training, while their afternoons were spent enjoying the outdoors, playing pickle ball, hiking, swimming and of course, going on afternoon doubles.
They even spent time hanging out with other high school programs who were training in Flagstaff as well.
Most importantly, it was a month of running where the team had the chance to bond and integrate with one another.
One of the many aspects that is consistently found in the culture of the Belen Jesuit program is the relationship that former runners have on the current generation of Wolverine distance runners, coach Ruiz said.
"I think Belen is extremely unique when it comes to the culture and traditions of our team. Showing up to a race and seeing a bunch of alumni driving or flying from all over the country just to see us run for 15 minutes is something so special. We get a sense that this team is bigger than just yourself or one person. The team-first mentality that Frankie instills in us is the reason why so many alumni are showing up to the races. We understand that every team before us is the reason we are as good as we are this year".
The impact that coach Ruiz has had on this program and its athletes over the last two decades is clearly a major one; the return of Belen Jesuit alumni to the program year-after-year is a testament to that.
Joshua Ruiz believes a "selfless and humble attitude" that is consistently seen within the program has created traditions that have developed over time with Belen Jesuit.
"Most of us still look to those who came before us for advice," the high school senior Ruiz said. "Frankie making us know the names of every runner from every one of our state championships is just one of the many little things we do at Belen that makes our team unique."
As a result, everyone who comes through the Belen program knows exactly what they're going to be a part of.
But the best aspect of the program's environment is the support that each athletes has for one another.
* Freshman Marcelo Mantecon finishes 3rd at the Great American XC Festival
Photo Credit: Dan Loughlin/MileSplit
A Strong Culture, And Looking Ahead
Just over a week ago, Mantecon ran the fastest 5,000 meter cross country race in freshman history, clocking a time of 14:48; he was also the first Wolverine to cross the finish line. Only three high school freshman in history have crossed that threshold.
Heading into the season, Mantecon had his eyes set on running 15:10, but he didn't dream of breaking 15:00, let alone 14:50.
When he accomplished the feat, Mantecon knew that the record was bigger than himself. He was quick to give credit to both Coach Ruiz and teammate Joshua Ruiz.
"It's been a big surprise, such a big jump," he said. "...Training with Josh and having Frankie as my coach, I'm really grateful for both of them. They always push me to do my best, even if I'm dying in a workout, Josh just tells me to get up whenever I'm down. I just applaud them."
At the end of the day, there is nothing that plays a bigger role in the success of Belen Jesuit than their close-knit culture.
"We are extremely close as a team, and being able to run alongside your best friends every day is something all of us are grateful for. Nobody wants to let anyone down," the senior Josh Ruiz said.
You could look at the times and the averages of this team and maybe suspect that the Wolverines are all outcome-driven.
But Belen Jesuit say they aren't about the single performances.
Instead, they say, they believe that every race is a blessing.
The best way to be successful, then, is to exhibit selflessness and to be humble.
Wins and titles and championships will take care of itself later.
Related Links:
MileSplit Featured series page