Florida Middle School Cross Country Team Rankings, Week 8: Boys and Girls Top 10

Florida middle school cross country team rankings, week 8, season through October 10, 2026

No Excuses RC leads the boys and is second for the girls, and it has not raced the team next to it on either list. NEXT is 51 points behind the No Excuses boys and has won both of its team races. The Emerald Coast girls went one, two, three at their conference championship on Tuesday and are 13 points clear of No Excuses on paper.

This is the statewide list: every Florida middle school and club team in one virtual race, top 10 boys and girls. The FLYRA state meet scores four separate team races, public, private, charter and club, and our division top 10s rank each one. Two girls' teams below, Oak Hall and All Saints', have run only high school varsity 5ks this fall. Their middle schoolers can enter FLYRA in November, and whether the schools bring a team is their call.

How to read it: each team's top seven, with the time each runner actually ran and, in parentheses, what that run projects to at the state meet. For a 5k, it is the 3K we project from it. The points are a virtual race against every team in the state. When two teams have met with their full lineups since mid-September, the most recent finish decides.

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Boys Top 10

1. No Excuses RC - 233 points

Elliot Lasota (7th) 10:49.1 (10:04.0); Cooper Finch (7th) 11:06.0 (10:20.9); Amari Isom (8th) 10:34.6 (10:35.7); Thomas Hurt (8th) 10:41.0 at 2025 state; Johnathon Hartley (7th) 11:06.5 (10:47.2). Then Dutch Howanitz (8th) 11:42.4 (10:57.3), Ben Jacobs (7th) 11:32.5 (11:33.6).

Won Bale N Trail with 43 points against 13 other teams and JAC on Saturday with 15, a perfect score. Elliot Lasota, a seventh grader, leads a team with three seventh graders in the five. Thomas Hurt is in on last November's state time. No Excuses and NEXT have not met.

2. NEXT - 284 points

Joao Cardoso (8th) 10:44.0 for two miles (9:55.2); Andrew LaHayne (8th) 10:42.8 (10:05.0); Evan Cepeda (8th) 10:33.2 (10:39.5); Enzo Maia (7th) 10:45.5 (10:50.8); Jeronimo Gonzalez (6th) 10:49.3 (10:55.6). Then Julian Carvajal 11:52.3 (11:57.6), Reid Chemidlin 12:51.2 (12:56.5).

Won the Horse Park with 56, ahead of Belen and the Harriers, and the Roc race at flrunners with 36, ahead of the same two and Tavares. Joao Cardoso and Andrew LaHayne also race for Neptune and Harmony middle schools, and the team is listed as it has raced.

3. Belen Jesuit (Miami) - 582 points

Aiden Cruz (7th) 10:19.1 (10:28.5); Jake Rubiera (8th) 10:25.7 (10:32.0); Diego Ferer (7th) 10:38.4 (10:44.7); Rowen Urbina (6th) 10:54.5 (11:03.8); Vittorio Stasi (8th) 13:09.9 for two miles (11:33.5). Then Tommaso Stasi (8th) 13:10.1 for two miles (11:33.7), Jose Sosa (8th) 13:13.3 for two miles (11:36.7).

The biggest jump on either list, and it rests on one point. Belen was second at flrunners with 57, and the Harriers were third with 58. That puts Belen directly ahead of them. On times alone Belen is the 10th-best team, and it has not met Ruckel, Ransom, Tavares, Emerald Coast or The Villages since September 12. Belen also won the varsity race at the second ACC meet on Friday.

4. Hillsborough Harriers - 349 points

RJ Destremps (8th) 10:08.4 (9:30.6); Wesley Taylor (7th) 11:14.4 (10:36.6); Alex Geisel (7th) 10:39.0 (10:45.3); Ace Hallinan (7th) 11:31.7 (10:53.9); Landon Healy (8th) 11:32.9 (10:55.1). Then Jackson Stubbs 11:06.0 (11:11.3), Max Day (7th) 11:51.1 (11:13.3).

RJ Destremps is the best 3K runner on any team here. The Harriers won Running on the Range over Tavares and The Villages and were third at flrunners, a point behind Belen. On times they are the third-best team in the state.

5. Ruckel Middle School - 415 points

Liam Jopling (8th) 10:25.0 (10:15.9); Cael Rusmisel (8th) 10:37.3 (10:28.2); Tyler Wade (6th) 11:00.8 (10:51.7); Benson Porter (8th) 11:03.6 (10:54.5); Jackson Porter (8th) 11:14.7 (11:05.6). Then Gavin Gheen (7th) 11:20.2 at 2025 state, Colin Blessing (7th) 12:41.8 for two miles (11:26.6).

Liam Jopling and Cael Rusmisel went one, two at Nights of Thunder, and Ruckel beat Tavares 24 to 35. Ruckel won the Shoal River meet on Wednesday. Every time in the five is from Nights of Thunder.

6. Ransom Everglades (Miami) - 415 points

Antonio Alvarez Valdes (8th) 10:23.2 at 2025 state; Nicolas Adler (8th) 11:59.4 (10:38.7); Ruslan Lefrak (8th) 12:01.8 (10:41.1); Sebastian Dangond (8th) 11:00.6 (10:57.9); Tiago Da Silva (8th) 11:06.5 (11:03.8). Then Juan Andres Dasburg (8th) 12:19.3 (11:13.2), Ethan Williams (7th) 11:46.6 (11:42.5).

Five team races, five wins, including the 2A middle school race at Spanish River. Tied on points with Ruckel and under two seconds a runner behind. Antonio Alvarez Valdes, 11th in the private race at state last year, has not raced this fall and is in on that time.

7. Tavares Middle School - 418 points

Jack Ilea (6th) 11:07.9 (10:30.1); Gabriel Garback (7th) 10:26.7 for 2,900m (10:34.2); Joel Cordero (8th) 11:29.6 (10:51.8); Alexis Hernandez (7th) 11:30.0 (10:52.2); Alejandro Hernandez (8th) 11:32.0 (11:00.1). Then Jeremiah William 11:32.6 (11:37.9), Dustin Albert (8th) 12:00.9 (11:44.6).

Sixteen meets, eleven wins, the latest at home on Thursday. The five losses came at Jim Ryun, the Horse Park, Nights of Thunder, Running on the Range and flrunners, to NEXT, Belen, the Harriers, The Villages and Ruckel. The five runs inside 30 seconds and is led by Jack Ilea, a sixth grader.

8. Emerald Coast Middle School - 425 points

Christian Psilos (8th) 10:45.0 for two miles (10:09.8); Adari Daley (8th) 11:01.0 for two miles (10:24.6); Tyler Oliver (7th) 11:16.7 for two miles (10:39.2); Mathew Cramer (6th) 11:47.0 for two miles (11:07.3); Knox Huegerich (8th) 11:48.4 for two miles (11:08.6). Then Christian Carpenter (7th) 11:48.9 for two miles (11:09.1), Enzo Ciaravini (8th) 11:49.7 for two miles (11:09.8).

Won the Panhandle Athletic conference championship on Tuesday with 20 points. Christian Psilos and Adari Daley led over two miles, and Emerald Coast had already won the pre-conference meet in September. The team has not met anyone else on this list.

9. The Villages Charter Middle School - 487 points

Colton Jobe (8th) 10:44.5 (9:59.7); Jace Lewis (7th) 10:48.8 (10:04.0); Karter James (8th) 11:30.8 (10:46.0); Eduardo Andrade (8th) 11:44.0 (10:59.2); Grant Reeves (8th) 12:13.4 (11:28.6). Then Leo McPherson (8th) 12:15.9 (11:31.1), Evan Anderson (8th) 12:02.8 (11:56.1).

Colton Jobe and Jace Lewis are a one-two few teams can match, and The Villages won Seffner Christian with 35 against 25 other teams. Third at Running on the Range behind the Harriers and Tavares, and fourth at the Horse Park.

10. South Florida HEAT (Sunrise) - 570 points

Jacob Ryle (8th) 19:09.8 for 5K (10:08.0); Zeb Dorn (8th) 19:56.8 for 5K (10:34.1); Zach Dorn (6th) 20:15.2 for 5K (10:59.3); Solomon Rebolledo (8th) 19:43.3 for 5K (11:12.0); Lincoln Coy (8th) 11:05.0 (11:14.4). Then Solomon Giffen (7th) 11:42.2 at 2025 state, Zeke Monterosso (7th) 12:33.2 (12:42.5).

Built mostly on high school 5ks. Jacob Ryle, Zeb Dorn and Zach Dorn race the varsity at South Fork, Spanish River and Dr. Garcia, and the team has run three middle school races. It won the 1A middle school race at Spanish River.

Just missed: Conchita Espinosa Academy, which won the varsity race at the 305 Classic on Friday with 49, ahead of Gulliver Prep's 61, and Gulliver.

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Girls Top 10

1. Emerald Coast Middle School - 97 points

Zoie Hart (8th) 11:27.2 for two miles (10:49.0); Corbyn Fellers (7th) 11:32.1 for two miles (10:53.5); Callie Skinner (8th) 11:34.9 for two miles (10:56.1); Mia Emhoff (7th) 12:03.1 for two miles (11:22.3); Maddie Madden (6th) 12:24.2 for two miles (11:41.9). Then Kendal Cerny (7th) 12:25.9 for two miles (11:43.4), Laila Lundblom (7th) 12:35.5 for two miles (11:52.4).

Zoie Hart, Corbyn Fellers and Callie Skinner went one, two, three at the Panhandle Athletic conference championship on Tuesday, and Emerald Coast scored 15. It also scored 15 at the pre-conference meet in September. The top three finished inside eight seconds of each other.

2. No Excuses RC - 110 points

Colette Heffernan (7th) 10:44.2 (9:59.1); Amelia Flood (8th) 11:23.0 (10:37.9); Madelen Finch (7th) 11:21.0 (11:01.7); Piper Austin (7th) 11:58.4 (11:39.1); Kenley Courson (7th) 11:48.0 (11:49.1). Then Amaya Mader (7th) 12:35.8 (11:50.7), Megan Richardson (8th) 12:29.4 (12:10.1).

Scored 18 against 15 other teams at Bale N Trail and a perfect 15 at JAC on Saturday. Colette Heffernan, Madelen Finch and Amelia Flood are three of the top seven girls in the state. Emerald Coast's depth is what keeps No Excuses second.

3. Boca Warriors Track Club - 226 points

Camila Boucher (8th) 11:11.3 (11:02.2); Arielle Gorlovetzky (6th) 12:06.4 (11:28.6); Katerina Skutnik (6th) 11:40.1 (11:45.4); Tejasvita Minnamareddy (6th) 11:48.2 (11:53.5); Olivia Aaronson (8th) 12:01.3 (12:06.6). Then Faith Gladstone (8th) 12:05.9 (12:11.2), Hayden Frey (7th) 12:22.4 (12:27.7).

Won Indian River over Tavares in August, the middle school race at Spanish River, and the Friday race at flrunners with 29 against 19 other teams. Camila Boucher leads three sixth graders.

4. Tavares Middle School - 273 points

Alice Ilea (8th) 11:05.9 (10:28.1); Kayla Santos (8th) 12:11.4 (11:33.6); Lilliana Gutfreind (8th) 12:18.5 (11:40.7); Meadow Sadlemire (8th) 12:43.8 (12:12.0); Hope Nesmith (8th) 12:54.3 (12:22.5). Then Amelia Hernandez (6th) 12:56.2 (12:23.7), Emma Williams (6th) 12:19.0 for 2,900m (12:30.6).

Sixteen meets, fifteen wins. The one loss was to the Boca Warriors at Indian River in August, by three points. Alice Ilea is the reason; the depth behind her is why Tavares is fourth.

5. Oak Hall (Gainesville) - 342 points

Natalie Kay (7th) 20:07.1 for 5K (11:10.3); Reese Allen (8th) 20:23.5 for 5K (11:19.4); Madeline Kay (7th) 21:20.0 for 5K (11:22.2); Macie Bell (8th) 21:05.2 for 5K (11:42.5); Arden Kirk (8th) 23:24.7 for 5K (13:01.8). Then Stella King (6th) 27:03.6 for 5K (14:32.9), June Collins (7th) 27:29.7 for 5K (14:47.4).

No middle school race this fall. The whole five comes from the Oak Hall high school varsity, led by seventh graders Natalie and Madeline Kay and eighth grader Reese Allen, with Buchholz on September 12 the best day.

6. All Saints' Academy (Winter Haven) - 427 points

Charlotte Roy (8th) 18:28.5 for 5K (10:21.7); Kylie Cook (8th) 19:04.2 for 5K (10:51.6); Julia Marra Andrade (7th) 21:31.0 for 5K (12:13.1); Savannah Simonds (7th) 21:35.8 for 5K (12:15.8); Maggie Koch (7th) 22:53.8 for 5K (12:59.1). Then Mila Wills (7th) 23:46.7 for 5K (13:28.4), Rachel Adams (8th) 25:54.8 for 5K (14:39.5).

Charlotte Roy and Kylie Cook are two of the best middle school girls in the state on their 5ks. The rest of the five is further back, and like Oak Hall, All Saints' has not run a middle school race.

7. Cornerstone Classical Academy (Jacksonville) - 466 points

Katelyn Milla (8th) 21:41.3 for 5K (11:41.7); Haven Smith (7th) 11:48.0 (11:49.1); Jayne McCarthy (7th) 12:13.0 (11:55.9); Adelyn Leavitt (8th) 23:02.8 for 5K (12:27.0); Eliza Arthur (8th) 13:07.5 (12:50.3). Then Lucy Sanftner (8th) 13:15.2 (12:58.0), Kenadee Hagensick (8th) 13:16.3 (12:59.1).

Second to No Excuses at Bale N Trail, where it beat Imagine Town Center, and second to Bolles at Katie Caples in September. Katelyn Milla and Adelyn Leavitt also race the high school 5k.

8. Imagine Town Center (Palm Coast) - 626 points

Mia Kopcikova (8th) 11:23.7 (11:22.1); Aspen Lester (6th) 11:55.0 (11:56.1); Mia Moore (8th) 12:15.9 (12:17.0); Madelyn Yorgey (8th) 12:44.3 (12:42.7); Marina Goncalves (8th) 13:08.2 (13:14.5). Then Madelyn Fallon (8th) 13:27.6 (13:28.7), Natalia Langer (8th) 13:48.2 (13:46.6).

Won Speziale on October 3 with 37, behind Mia Kopcikova's individual win, and beat Bolles there. Third behind Cornerstone at Bale N Trail.

9. Hillsborough Harriers - 640 points

Bailey Eggleston (8th) 11:53.8 (11:16.0); Lucy Dory 11:57.9 (12:06.4); Maysen McDonald (6th) 12:06.4 (12:14.9); Helene Waters (7th) 12:33.8 (12:42.3); Madison Keiter (7th) 13:12.9 (13:18.2). Then Sienna Arguello (7th) 14:05.3 (13:27.5), Rosie Barnhill (6th) 13:37.5 (13:43.8).

Second to Tavares at Jim Ryun, Running on the Range and flrunners. Bailey Eggleston leads.

10. Montford Middle School - 692 points

Acadia Hassell (8th) 11:04.9 at 2025 state; Natalie Trimble (8th) 12:21.7 (12:12.2); Ananiah Scringer (8th) 12:34.7 (12:25.2); Adrianne Miller (7th) 12:52.1 (12:42.7); Teagan Field (6th) 13:29.5 (13:20.1). Then Isabella West (7th) 13:25.4 (13:26.4), Ava Wade (7th) 13:36.9 (13:27.5).

Won all four Leon County meets this fall and was second to Tavares at Nights of Thunder. Acadia Hassell, fourth in the public race at state last year, has not raced and is in on that time.

Just missed: Bolles. Bolles beat Cornerstone at Katie Caples, Cornerstone beat Imagine Town Center at Bale N Trail, and Imagine Town Center beat Bolles at Speziale. When three teams beat each other in a circle, the newest meeting decides, so Bolles is 11th. Ransom Everglades is 12th.

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How we ranked them

• Florida middle schoolers only, grades 6 through 8, every middle school race in the results database through October 10. Two-mile, 2.1-mile, 3,200-meter and 2,900-meter races are converted to 3K. Fifth graders, including ungraded kids who also run elementary races, are on the elementary lists only.
• Middle schoolers who race high school 5ks are in. Each 5k is leveled for its course, then turned into a 3K figure using the middle schoolers who have raced both distances this fall. A kid with both keeps the better one.
• A runner scores once, for the team they have raced for most this fall. Red Sea Running Club is Tavares Middle School. A kid seen only at last November's state meet is seeded on that time, for that team.
• Team order: one virtual race of every team's top seven, five score and six and seven push. A team that beat a higher-ranked team in their most recent meeting moves directly above it until they meet again. Meetings from September 12 and earlier no longer bind, JV races do not count as meetings, and a loss by a team missing two or more of its top five is not held against it.

Individuals: week 8 middle school top 10s. By division: team top 10s by FLYRA division. Every result is in the Florida XC results database.