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Southeast Region Boys Early Season Rankings 2025Published by
Junior Marcelo Mantecon Leads The Way For Belen Jesuit, Which Seeks Fourth Straight NXN Trip By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys NXR Southeast Preview Since the end of the pandemic, Belen Jesuit of Miami has ruled boys cross country in the Southeast region. And with junior Marcelo Mantecon, one of the top runners in the country leading the way, that trend may continue. Belen Jesuit is on track to have another successful season and qualify for Nike Cross Nationals for a fourth straight year. After 14th place in 2022, fourth in 2023 and 12th last year, the Wolverines remain the favorite in the Southeast. The schedule was momentarily a problem. The Florida state meet conflicts with the NXR Southeast meet in North Carolina this year, so NXN meet organizers decided to include the state championship results in its assessment of which teams are eligible for at-large selection. So Belen Jesuit can run hard at the state meet, go for its ninth straight title, and know that it's body of work will be evaluated on its merits. St. Albans of D.C. was the second auto qualifier last year and finished 18th at NXN. Mantecon is the top returner in the region after placing fifth last year. Paul Van Laningham of Cooper KY was sixth and is the only other individual returner who placed in the top 10. 1. Belen Jesuit Prep FL. Two meets into the season there is a pattern developing with the Wolverines. Mantecon and junior Armando Cruz have finished 1-2 for the team, but then there is a large gap of 40-50 seconds to third man sophomore Nicholas Veloso. Sophomore Jack Michalak, junior Davi Bodoh, freshman David Jaramillo, junior Liam Salom and senior Matthias Murrle have packed close together, but someone needs to close that gap in order fo Belen Jesuit to keep pace with the elite teams nationally. 2. Broughton NC. The Capitals return four of last year's top five from a team that finished third at NXR Southeast. Junior Charlie Slawinski, senior Sam Wooten, junior Cam Kuss and senior Ben DeGroff lead a deep team capable of moving up one spot and earning an automatic bid to NXN. None of these four takes a low number, so making progress as a group will be the key to sucess. Senior Chase Liming, sophomore Tyler Burke and freshman Jack Slawinski should also make some key contributions. 3. Trinity (Louisville) KY. The Shamrocks may have finished 13th at NXR Southeast last year but the team opened with an impressive performance at the St. Xavier Tiger Run on Aug. 30, putting seven runners under 16 minutes. Performances like that against quality competition could put Trinity squarely in the picture for a top-two finish at the regional. Senior Drew Koon, sophomore Christian Stewart, senior Jake Hagan, junior Ayden Taylor, senior Haydon Spears, senior Sullivan Yaden and senior Whitman Goodwin make this team deep and dangerous. 4. McCallie School TN. The Tornado graduated its top two but there are a handful of talented returners to keep the team performing at a high standard in the region. A senior class that has grown up together will power a team that should be in the hunt for an automatic berth a NXR Southeast. The top six are all seniors: Ian Jacobs, John Roe, Luke Bowen, Henry Webb, Taylor Combs and Matthew Gabbert. (Edit 9/15) - The addition of Andrew Beroset as a transfer rom Florida likely makes MCallie the No. 2 team in the Southeast). 5. Christ School NC.The Greenies made a strong season debut at the Eye Opener on Aug. 30 with a team victory that showed off the team's tight compression through five. Five juniors, Reynolds Young, Brooks Barbee, Dallas Reeves, Jack Dennehy and Brody Webb, bit between seventh and 18th place and crossed the finish line within a 24-second window. Senior Noah Clancy and junior Timmy McDowell bring support as sixth and seventh men. With so many juniors, this team is one to watch for 2026 as well. WATCHLIST More news |
