Class 1A Region 4, Thursday at South County Regional Park: Elijah Arterburn went from 73rd at state to the favorite, four boys teams are within a few points, and Noelle Richardson and Grace Dorn are 2-2 this fall.
FHSAA Class 1A Region 4 cross country, Thursday, November 12, South County Regional Park, Boca Raton
Elijah Arterburn was 73rd at state last fall. On Thursday morning in Boca Raton, the Atlantic Christian senior is the favorite to win Region 4. He ran 16:02.5 in the Race of Champions at Spanish River and won District 7 by nearly 18 seconds. The two runners with the best state finishes in this race last year, Benjamin Francis (15th) and Lucas Latimore (17th), are now chasing him.
The boys team race is the closest in 1A. Marathon and Sheridan Hills Christian tied at 50 points at District 8. South Florida HEAT was third. Atlantic Christian won District 7 with five runners. Only one of them leaves with the trophy.
The girls race has a rubber match up front. Noelle Richardson of Westminster Academy and Grace Dorn of South Florida HEAT have met four times this fall, and each has won two.
- Girls 8:00 a.m., boys 9:00 a.m.
- Hosted by Pine Crest. It is the traditional South County 5K, two laps around the lake. Use the Sunset Cove Amphitheater (11200 Park Access Road) for directions, because the park is huge. Admission is $12 with parking, and Pure Gold Timing has live results.
- Districts 7 and 8 meet here
- Top eight teams and the top four runners not on those teams go to the FHSAA state meet, Friday, November 20, at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee
The field is official: every team and individual below is on FHSAA's regional entry list, posted November 9. The order matches our Class 1A region rankings. We will miss one or two. That is what race day is for.
Girls, 8:00 a.m.: Richardson against Dorn, the rubber match
The team race
Westminster Academy won District 7 with 35 points behind Richardson, seventh-grader Isla Oles and Lauren Sauer. It is the pick.
Boca Raton Christian is second. Jupiter Christian's season bests score better, but Boca Raton Christian beat Jupiter at District 7 by three points, 82 to 85. South Florida HEAT won District 8 with 36 and is fourth. Only 14 full teams are entered, so eight of the 14 go to Tallahassee.
The orange line marks the last of the eight team spots to state.
The individual race
Richardson, a Westminster senior, was 13th at state last fall. Dorn, a HEAT sophomore, was 40th. This fall they are dead even. Dorn won their first two meetings in September, at Kings Academy (Richardson did not finish) and at Spanish River, where Dorn ran 19:26.7, the fastest best in the field. Richardson won the next two, at South Fork in October and at New World by one second, 19:34 to 19:35. The newer results make Richardson the pick, by about that much.
Valentina Santana of Atlantic Christian was second at District 7, and Marathon eighth-grader Molly Joly was second at District 8.
| Rank | Runner | School | Best this fall | Where | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noelle Richardson (Sr.) | Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) | 19:30.9 | Pine Crest Meet | 1st, 19:52.4 |
| 2 | Grace Dorn (So.) | South Florida HEAT (Sunrise) | 19:26.7 | Spanish River Invitational, 44th Annual | 1st, 20:32.4 |
| 3 | Valentina Santana (So.) * | Atlantic Christian (West Palm Beach) | 21:02.5 | 1A District 7 | 2nd, 21:02.5 |
| 4 | Molly Joly (8th grade) * | Marathon | 20:42.9 | Spanish River Invitational, 44th Annual | 2nd, 20:46.9 |
| 5 | Isla Oles (7th grade) | Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) | 20:56.0 | New World Fall Spectacular | 3rd, 21:29.1 |
| 6 | Anabelle Assad (7th grade) | Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) | 20:44.6 | Palm League Conference Championships | 4th, 21:40.1 |
| 7 | Lia Chaustre (7th grade) * | True North (Miami) | 21:20.6 | 1A District 8 | 3rd, 21:20.6 |
| 8 | Leilani Benzing (Sr.) | Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) | 21:47.9 | 1A District 7 | 5th, 21:47.9 |
| 9 | Lauren Sauer (Sr.) | Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) | 21:04.0 | New World Fall Spectacular | 6th, 21:51.4 |
| 10 | Collins Carroll (8th grade) | Jupiter Christian | 21:54.8 | Dwyer Glow in the Dark | 7th, 21:56.7 |
| 11 | Morgan Bernard (Jr.) | Pine School (Hobe Sound) | 21:44.0 | Spanish River Invitational, 44th Annual | 8th, 22:21.6 |
| 12 | Gabriela Salcedo (Sr.) * | AIE Charter (Miami Springs) | 22:08.0 | 1A District 8 | 4th, 22:08.0 |
* Projected to state as an individual (not on one of the top eight teams).
Why some slower times rank higher:
- Noelle Richardson (19:30.9): beat Grace Dorn at New World on October 17, 19:34.0 to 19:35.0.
- Valentina Santana (21:02.5): beat Isla Oles and Anabelle Assad at the 1A District 7 meet on November 3; Molly Joly's 20:42.9 came at the Spanish River Invitational, a faster course.
- Isla Oles (20:56.0): beat Anabelle Assad at the 1A District 7 meet on November 3, 21:29.1 to 21:40.1.
- Lia Chaustre (21:20.6): Lauren Sauer's 21:04.0 came at New World, a faster course.
- Leilani Benzing (21:47.9): beat Lauren Sauer and Morgan Bernard at the 1A District 7 meet on November 3.
- Collins Carroll (21:54.8): beat Morgan Bernard at the 1A District 7 meet on November 3, 21:56.7 to 22:21.6.
On the bubble
With 14 teams for eight spots, the line falls between St. Edward's, seventh at District 7, and AIE Charter, second at District 8. Sheridan Hills and Marathon are right behind.
Santana and Joly are in as individuals, along with True North seventh-grader Lia Chaustre, third at District 8. Gabriela Salcedo, an AIE senior, holds the fourth spot, but if AIE makes the top eight she scores for the team instead, and the spot goes to Adison Admire of Divine Savior or Riviera Prep freshman Petra Rouzier.
The race for the four individual spots
| Our rank | Runner | School | Best this fall | District | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Valentina Santana (So.) | Atlantic Christian (West Palm Beach) | 21:02.5 | 2nd, 21:02.5 | Projected in |
| 4 | Molly Joly (8th grade) | Marathon | 20:42.9 | 2nd, 20:46.9 | Projected in |
| 7 | Lia Chaustre (7th grade) | True North (Miami) | 21:20.6 | 3rd, 21:20.6 | Projected in |
| 12 | Gabriela Salcedo (Sr.) | AIE Charter (Miami Springs) | 22:08.0 | 4th, 22:08.0 | Projected in |
| 13 | Adison Admire (So.) | Divine Savior (Doral) | 22:40.9 | 5th, 23:10.3 | Next in line |
| 15 | Petra Rouzier (Fr.) | Riviera Prep (Miami) | 22:30.0 | 7th, 23:51.8 | Next in line |
Who's in the race
FHSAA's regional entry list has 100 girls entered: seven per team (fewer where a team brought fewer) plus the individual qualifiers. The district finish and team score are in parentheses.
District 7 (November 3): Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) (1st, 35), Boca Raton Christian (2nd, 82), Jupiter Christian (3rd, 85), Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) (4th, 89), John Carroll (Fort Pierce) (5th, 115), Pine School (Hobe Sound) (6th, 135), St. Edwards (Vero Beach) (7th, 153), Berean Christian (West Palm Beach) (8th, 199). Individuals: Valentina Santana (Atlantic Christian, 2nd), Victoria Stuart (Atlantic Christian, 10th), Charlize Douglas (Lake Worth Christian, 24th), Aviva Dominguez (Atlantic Christian, 44th).
District 8 (November 3): South Florida HEAT (Sunrise) (1st, 36), AIE Charter (Miami Springs) (2nd, 67), Sheridan Hills Christian (Hollywood) (3rd, 76), Marathon (4th, 91), Divine Savior (Doral) (5th, 110), Posnack (Davie) (6th, 118). Individuals: Lia Chaustre (True North, 3rd), Petra Rouzier (Riviera Prep, 7th), Cleo Pottier (Mater Biscayne, 32nd), Layla Arrojo (True North, 33rd).
Projected to state: Westminster Academy, Boca Raton Christian, Jupiter Christian, South Florida HEAT, Oxbridge Academy, John Carroll, Pine School, St. Edwards; individuals Valentina Santana (Atlantic Christian), Molly Joly (Marathon), Lia Chaustre (True North), Gabriela Salcedo (AIE Charter).
Run the Region 4 girls teams in the simulator and swap in your own lineup.
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Boys, 9:00 a.m.: Four teams, one trophy, and Arterburn against Burns
The team race
Marathon is the pick because last week's result stands. It tied Sheridan Hills at 50, took the tiebreaker and beat South Florida HEAT. Lucian Burns won the race, and Antonin Bursa and Allan Taylor gave Marathon depth. Sheridan Hills, behind Santiago Ospina and Josh Cadelien, is second.
HEAT is third and Atlantic Christian fourth. Atlantic Christian won District 7 with 41 points but has five runners entered and one alternate, so there is no room for a bad day. On season bests these four teams are separated by less than 30 points. Any of them can win it.
The orange line marks the last of the eight team spots to state.
The individual race
Arterburn and Burns have met once this fall, at the Pine Crest meet in August, and Arterburn won it, 16:16.9 to 16:37.1. A year ago at state it went the other way: Burns 42nd as a freshman, Arterburn 73rd. Since August, Arterburn ran 16:02.5 in the Race of Champions at Spanish River while Burns was second in the 1A-2A race there in 16:18.7, and Burns won District 8 in 16:47.1. Arterburn is the pick.
Latimore, a Westminster senior, was second to Arterburn at District 7 and lost to Burns at Spanish River. Francis of Highlands Christian, third at District 7, has a 16:06.2 best and is in the mix for the top three.
| Rank | Runner | School | Best this fall | Where | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elijah Arterburn (Sr.) | Atlantic Christian (West Palm Beach) | 16:02.5 | Spanish River Invitational, 44th Annual | 1st, 16:26.6 |
| 2 | Lucian Burns (So.) | Marathon | 16:18.7 | Spanish River Invitational, 44th Annual | 1st, 16:47.1 |
| 3 | Lucas Latimore (Sr.) | Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) | 16:13.0 | New World Fall Spectacular | 2nd, 16:44.3 |
| 4 | Benjamin Francis (Sr.) * | Highlands Christian (Pompano Beach) | 16:06.2 | Snake Bite Invite | 3rd, 16:56.0 |
| 5 | John Curley (Sr.) * | St. Edwards (Vero Beach) | 16:46.5 | Jensen Beach Fleet Feet Invitational | 4th, 17:15.5 |
| 6 | Edwin Rodriguez (So.) | Atlantic Christian (West Palm Beach) | 17:16.2 | Jensen Beach Fleet Feet Invitational | 5th, 18:01.1 |
| 7 | Luke Jackson (Sr.) * | Doctors Charter (Miami Shores) | 17:26.7 | 1A District 8 | 2nd, 17:26.7 |
| 8 | Santiago Ospina (Sr.) | Sheridan Hills Christian (Hollywood) | 17:12.7 | Marathon HS Meet | 3rd, 17:36.5 |
| 9 | Luis Escobar (Jr.) * | Divine Savior (Doral) | 17:25.5 | Spanish River Invitational, 44th Annual | 4th, 17:40.5 |
| 10 | Carlos Broderick (Jr.) | South Florida HEAT (Sunrise) | 18:03.0 | New World Fall Spectacular | 5th, 18:03.7 |
| 11 | Josh Cadelien (Sr.) | Sheridan Hills Christian (Hollywood) | 17:18.0 | Marathon HS Meet | 6th, 18:11.7 |
| 12 | Michael Martinez (Jr.) | Riviera Prep (Miami) | 17:52.4 | Pine Crest Last Chance Meet | 7th, 18:11.8 |
* Projected to state as an individual (not on one of the top eight teams).
Why some slower times rank higher:
- Lucian Burns (16:18.7): beat Lucas Latimore at the Spanish River Invitational on September 18, 16:18.7 to 16:32.8; No. 1 on our 1A rankings, Benjamin Francis No. 4.
- Lucas Latimore (16:13.0): beat Benjamin Francis at the 1A District 7 meet on November 3, 16:44.3 to 16:56.0.
- Edwin Rodriguez (17:16.2): beat Santiago Ospina at the Dr. Garcia Bulldog Invite on September 3, 18:05.4 to 18:06.5.
- Luke Jackson (17:26.7): beat Santiago Ospina, Luis Escobar and Josh Cadelien at the 1A District 8 meet on November 3.
- Luis Escobar (17:25.5): beat Josh Cadelien at the 1A District 8 meet on November 3, 17:40.5 to 18:11.7.
- Carlos Broderick (18:03.0): beat Josh Cadelien and Michael Martinez at the 1A District 8 meet on November 3.
On the bubble
The last team spot looks like True North against Doctor's Charter. True North was fourth at District 8 and Doctor's Charter fifth.
That matters for the individual spots too. Francis is safe, and St. Edward's senior John Curley, fourth at District 7, should be. Luke Jackson of Doctor's Charter, second at District 8, and Luis Escobar of Divine Savior, fourth there, hold the last two spots only if their teams miss the top eight. If Doctor's Charter gets in, Michael Martinez of Riviera Prep is next in line.
The race for the four individual spots
| Our rank | Runner | School | Best this fall | District | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Benjamin Francis (Sr.) | Highlands Christian (Pompano Beach) | 16:06.2 | 3rd, 16:56.0 | Projected in |
| 5 | John Curley (Sr.) | St. Edwards (Vero Beach) | 16:46.5 | 4th, 17:15.5 | Projected in |
| 7 | Luke Jackson (Sr.) | Doctors Charter (Miami Shores) | 17:26.7 | 2nd, 17:26.7 | Projected in |
| 9 | Luis Escobar (Jr.) | Divine Savior (Doral) | 17:25.5 | 4th, 17:40.5 | Projected in |
| 12 | Michael Martinez (Jr.) | Riviera Prep (Miami) | 17:52.4 | 7th, 18:11.8 | Next in line |
| 14 | Samuel Sarria (Jr.) | Highlands Christian (Pompano Beach) | 18:10.8 | 6th, 18:10.8 | Next in line |
Who's in the race
FHSAA's regional entry list has 114 boys entered: seven per team (fewer where a team brought fewer) plus the individual qualifiers. The district finish and team score are in parentheses.
District 7 (November 3): Atlantic Christian (West Palm Beach) (1st, 41), Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) (2nd, 63), John Carroll (Fort Pierce) (3rd, 82), Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) (4th, 93), St. Edwards (Vero Beach) (5th, 108), Boca Raton Christian (6th, 115), Pine School (Hobe Sound) (7th, 161), Donna Klein Jewish (Boca Raton) (8th, 219). Individuals: Benjamin Francis (Highlands Christian, 3rd), Samuel Sarria (Highlands Christian, 6th), Liam Gamache (Morningside, 31st), Will Bachmann (Berean Christian, 32nd).
District 8 (November 3): Marathon (1st, 50), Sheridan Hills Christian (Hollywood) (2nd, 50), South Florida HEAT (Sunrise) (3rd, 74), True North (Miami) (4th, 116), Doctors Charter (Miami Shores) (5th, 131), Divine Savior (Doral) (6th, 133), Westwood Christian (Miami) (7th, 201), AIE Charter (Miami Springs) (8th, 209). Individuals: Michael Martinez (Riviera Prep, 7th), Mateo Medina (Archimedean, 17th), Johnathan Cuello (Somerset College Prep Academy South, 23rd), Levi Wilkinson-Brown (Somerset College Prep Academy South, 29th).
Projected to state: Marathon, Sheridan Hills Christian, South Florida HEAT, Atlantic Christian, Westminster Academy, John Carroll, Oxbridge Academy, True North; individuals Benjamin Francis (Highlands Christian), John Curley (St. Edwards), Luke Jackson (Doctors Charter), Luis Escobar (Divine Savior).
Run the Region 4 boys teams in the simulator and swap in your own lineup.
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How we built it
- The field is FHSAA's 2026 regional entry list (posted November 9): the seven entered runners on each qualifying team and the individual qualifiers. Alternates are left out. A coach can still swap one in, but a substitute only scores for the team and is not eligible for individual honors.
- Each region is run as one race on our results database, every runner on their best race this fall, with courses put on the same scale using the runners who raced both.
- Inside a district, last week's result stands. Across the two districts, our latest statewide and 1A lists and head-to-head results since September decide it, the most recent meeting standing.
- Every time printed is a time actually run this fall. When a slower time sits above a faster one, the note under the table says why.
- Roy Griak is left out, and only 2026 races count.
Pine Crest runs a tight meet at South County. Get there early and use the Sunset Cove Amphitheater for directions. Every district result is in the Florida XC results database, and the full class picture is in our Class 1A region rankings.