Belen Jesuit (Miami) long has been a cross country power in the Sunshine State, and the Wolverines' boys team sent a message that they again will be a strong contender for the Class 3A state title when their starting seven runners swept the top seven places at the District 8-3A meet last week. Elliot Clemente clocked a winning time of 16 minutes, 27.67 seconds. The next six Belen runners all were within 39 seconds of Clemente, which is phenomenal pack-running. It's the 30th district title for the Belen program.
PALM BEACH COUNTY IS THE GOLF CAPITALPalm Beach County likes to boast that it's the golf capital of the world. After all, Jack Nicklaus is one of its famous residents. It's also becoming a hotbed for high school talent. Last week in Ocala, Christina Ocampo of
Spanish River (Boca Raton) carded a final-round 75 to win the Class 2A individual title, becoming the second winner in three years from that school to claim the championship. Jan Chanpalangri became the third individual champion in the past eight years from
St. Andrew's (Boca Raton) to capture the Class 1A title, joining three-time winner Morgan Pressel and Lauren Mielbrecht.
Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) won the boys 1A state title for the first time since 1985. That gives Palm Beach County a combined 12 individual and team titles in the past nine years.