Saturday, August 30, 2025

Southwest Florida High School Cross-Country Season Poised For Thrilling Competition

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The 2025 Southwest Florida high school cross-country season is shaping up to be a thrilling one, with several top athletes vying for state championships. According to a report by The Indianapolis Star, two runners to watch are Mariner's Angel Cruz and Oasis' Jazlyn Forbes. Cruz, a standout for the Tritons, will face a tough challenge in his pursuit of an individual title, particularly with Marcelo Montecon of Belen Jesuit, the best distance runner in Florida and defending champion, standing in his way.

Cruz's impressive eighth-place finish in the 2024 Class 3A championship race was a surprise to many, including himself. To succeed, he will need to overcome the odds and outperform his competitors. Meanwhile, the team landscape is more uncertain, with graduations having depleted the ranks of top teams like Bishop Verot, Fort Myers... and Naples. Several individual runners are poised to make a significant impact this season.

One to keep an eye on is Sienna Audrey, "a senior from the Community School of Naples." After a junior year marred by injury, "Audrey is looking to bounce back and reclaim her title as a top contender." Her win at the district meet last fall was a promising start... and she will be eager to defend her Class ← →

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Southwest Florida High School Cross-Country: A History of Excellence** The Southwest Florida high school cross-country scene has a rich history of producing talented athletes who have gone on to achieve great success at the state and national levels. Over the years, teams from the region have consistently demonstrated their prowess, with several claiming state championships.

One of the most notable achievements recently was Bishop Verot's state champion boys squad, which dominated the competition before graduating its top athletes. Similarly, Fort Myers girls' team, led by state champion Masha Dorofeev, made a significant impact before losing its star runner to graduation. The Naples girls' team, which had several top-notch seniors, also made significant contributions to the region's reputation for excellence.

However, with the departure of these talented athletes... the area team picture has become murkier, creating opportunities for new teams and runners to emerge. Despite the challenges posed by graduations, individual runners from Southwest Florida have consistently demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest levels.

The 2024 Class 3A championship race, "for example," "saw Angel Cruz of Mariner finish eighth.".. a remarkable achievement that surprised even his teammates.

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If things fall as projected, there are two certainties heading into the 2025 Southwest Florida high school cross country season: Mariner's Angel Cruz and Oasis' Jazlyn Forbes will be in the hunt for state championships come November. Cruz will face an even tougher task in pursuit of an individual title.  His eighth-place finish in the 2024 Class 3A championship race surprised even the Tritons star. Cruz will have to take down the best distance runner in Florida and defending champion Marcelo Montecon Belen Jesuit.

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