The FLYRA state meet scores four divisions. Here are the top five middle school boys and girls in each, listed under the team they have raced for this fall, including the eighth graders racing varsity 5ks: Blumenberg and Roy lead Private, Destremps and Heffernan lead Club, Lomoriello and Motycka lead Public, and every kid is ranked once.
Florida middle school cross country, season through October 3, 2026
The FLYRA middle school state meet in November scores four divisions: public school, private school, charter school and club. Our weekly middle school list is one statewide top 10. This one splits the same season into the four divisions, five deep each, boys and girls, so a kid who is 14th in the state can see that they are second in their division.
Everybody is listed under the team they have raced for this fall. A club jersey puts a runner in Club, and a school jersey puts them in that school's division. Where a program picked a division at last year's state meet, that pick stands: Tampa Bay HEAT ran the private race and Imagine Town Center ran the club race. The one team that is two names is Red Sea Running Club, which is Tavares Middle School, so Alice Ilea and her teammates are Public.
Plenty of these kids could go either way in November. Colette Heffernan races for No Excuses RC and ran the public race for Landrum Middle School last year. Tommy Schulte has worn Naples Elite three times and Gulfview Middle School once. Drake Matyka is unattached at most meets and his school is a charter. Joao Cardoso splits his fall between NEXT and Neptune Middle School. Those runners are listed under the jersey they have worn most, with a note, and they move the day their program enters state. A kid who has not raced this fall is seeded on last November's state time, under last November's team.
Some of the fastest middle schoolers in Florida are not in middle school races at all. Eighth graders at schools that run through twelfth grade race varsity and JV 5ks for the high school team: Zamari Blumenberg and Taylor Geraghty of Holy Trinity, Charlotte Roy and Kylie Cook of All Saints', Esther Dobbin of Cocoa Beach. The FLYRA meet is open to them in November, so they are on these lists. Their 5ks are leveled for the course the way our high school lists do it, then turned into a 3K figure using the middle schoolers who have raced both distances this fall. Whether any of them comes down for the state meet or finishes the season with the varsity is their call, and each entry says so.
How to read the numbers: every runner is listed with the time they actually ran, and the number in parentheses is our projection of what that run is worth at the state meet. For a 5k, that number is the 3K we project from it. The projections set the order inside each division, and when two ranked kids have raced each other, at either distance, the finish decides. Every runner here has one page in the results database no matter how many team names the timers used, with each result keeping the jersey it was run in.
Boys Public School Top 5
1. Luke Lomoriello, Hobbs Middle School, 8th grade - 10:17.3 at Jim Ryun (projects 9:39.4)
The best projection of any public school boy, from the second-place run at Jim Ryun on opening day. Fourth in the Roc race at flrunners Friday in 10:04.2, one spot behind Schulte. Before that he won Pace Patriot and the Gulf Coast Stampede, where he ran 9:42.6. Eighth in the public race at state last year in 10:16.9.
2. Lucca Wiseman, Pioneer Middle School, 8th grade - 10:43.3 at Markham Park on September 16 (projects 9:52.8)
Three Broward conference races at Markham, three wins, the latest on September 30 in 10:39.5 by 46.8 seconds. He has not raced anyone else on this list, and the Markham reading rests on a handful of returners, so his number carries more guesswork than most.
3. Liam Jopling, Ruckel Middle School, 8th grade - 10:25.0 at Nights of Thunder (projects 10:15.9)
Won the Nights of Thunder middle school race on September 12 in 10:25.0 by 12.3 seconds in a field of 205, and has not raced since. Sixth in the public race at state last year in 10:01.3, which is faster than anything on this list, so the one race undersells him.
4. Lorenzo Bellosa, Neptune Middle School, 8th grade - 11:05.2 for two miles at the JT Memorial (projects 10:27.3)
Third at the JT Memorial and third at Osceola County behind Cardoso and LaHayne, then a race for NEXT at flrunners. He ran the club race for Soldier City Striders at state last year in 12:03.3 and is a minute and a half better now. Two Neptune races to one for NEXT puts him here; he could enter either.
5. Marco Garcia, Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor K-8, 7th grade - 10:46.1 at Jim Ryun (projects 10:18.4)
Ninth at Jim Ryun for Miami Elite, then a September race for his school. Listed under the school; the club is the other door.
Next up: Hudson Adams of Shoal River, Cael Rusmisel of Ruckel, and Jack Ilea of Tavares, a sixth grader.
Boys Private School Top 5
1. Zamari Blumenberg, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Melbourne), 8th grade - 17:21.2 for 5k at Astronaut (projects 9:20.3)
Five varsity 5ks for Holy Trinity's high school team and no middle school race. Tenth of 379 in the 1A-2A race at Spanish River in 17:10.6, his fastest, and second in the Blue race at Great American on Saturday in 17:13.8. The Astronaut run, 17th of 230, gives him the best projection of any eighth grader in Florida at either distance. He could enter the private race in November for Holy Trinity or finish the fall with the varsity. Both are open to him.
2. Liam Piper, Southwest Florida Christian Academy, 8th grade - 18:40.5 for 5k at Fort Myers (projects 9:45.5)
Races both levels. Five varsity 5ks, the fastest 17:50.0 at North Port, with the best projection coming from the Fort Myers Invite on a day the course ran slow for everyone. Second in the Spanish River middle school race in 10:09.0 and third at the AVE Invite. Fourteenth in the private race at state last year in 10:25.7. His 5ks project ahead of his 3ks, and the better figure is the one that counts.
3. Sutton Bolitho, Aletheia Christian Academy (Pensacola), 7th grade - 19:07.2 for 5k at the Wildcat Invitational (projects 10:04.8)
A seventh grader with four varsity 5ks and no middle school race: 18:43.0 at Pine Forest, 18:59.8 at Pace Patriot, and 19:07.2 for 26th at Wildcat on Saturday, his best projection. Aletheia fields a middle school team; whether he runs the private race in November is the school's call.
4. Daniel Hage, Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale), 7th grade - 18:38.9 for 5k at the Dr. Garcia Invitational (projects 10:05.1)
Won the JV race at Dr. Garcia on September 3 in 18:38.9, ran 18:33.0 in the 1A-2A varsity race at Spanish River, and was eighth in the Jim Ryun middle school race in 10:49.6. The JV win is his best figure.
5. Noah Chandler, Tampa Bay HEAT, 8th grade - 10:54.9 at Seffner Christian (projects 10:10.1)
Won the Grayling Memorial and the Stampede Sprint, where he ran 10:40.3, and was eighth in the Roc race Friday in 10:17.8. HEAT ran the private race at state last year, where he was 22nd in 10:42.8. The highest-ranked boy in this division who has raced only middle school races.
Next up: Brayden Erwin of Merritt Island Christian, who won the JV race at Indian River Fairgrounds; James McDonald of Oak Hall, a sixth grader racing varsity 5ks; Kaden Webb of Carrollwood Day. Elliot Macki of Calvary Christian, second here before the 5k runners were added, is ninth.
Boys Charter School Top 5
1. Javier Parker, Doral Academy, 8th grade - 16:56.1 for 5k at Pine Crest (projects 9:26.7)
The fastest 5k by a Florida eighth grader this fall, 16:56.1 for 11th of 186 at Pine Crest on August 28, then 17:06.3 in the varsity invite at the Horse Park. He came down to the Spanish River middle school race on September 18 and won it by 13.4 seconds in 9:55.6 in a field of 314. The 5ks are his best figures and they put him first. He and Matyka have not raced each other. Doral has a middle school entry open to him in November and a varsity he has spent most of the fall with.
2. Drake Matyka, East Lake Middle School Academy, 8th grade - 10:19.3 at Jim Ryun (projects 9:41.4)
Won the Roc race at flrunners on Friday in 9:47.7, 5.2 seconds ahead of Destremps, his third straight win after Running on the Range and the Todd Howsare Memorial. He is listed unattached at four of five meets and raced once for his school, a Pinellas County charter, so he is here. He ran the public race unattached at state last year, ninth in 10:20.9, and he could enter either way again. Parker is ahead on a 5k figure alone; the first time they meet settles it.
3. Landon Avila, Doral Academy, 8th grade - 10:24.7 at Spanish River (projects 10:34.1)
Seventh in the Spanish River middle school race in 10:24.7, two places ahead of Sancerni, and that finish keeps him above Sancerni. Also 18:59.1 in the Pine Crest JV race and 19th at the Horse Park. Twenty-third in the charter race at state last year in 11:28.0.
4. Alejandro Sancerni, Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines), 8th grade - 18:11.5 for 5k at the Dr. Garcia Invitational (projects 9:49.9)
The best projection in this division after Parker and Matyka, from 18:11.5 for 23rd in the varsity race at Dr. Garcia and 18:48.7 for fourth at Superfly. Ninth in the Spanish River middle school race in 10:28.5, behind Avila, which is why he is fourth and not third.
5. Colton Jobe, Villages Charter Middle School, 8th grade - 10:44.5 at Seffner Christian (projects 9:59.7)
Won Seffner Christian and the Crystal River meet, where he ran 10:56.0 by 21.2 seconds, and was second at the Horse Park. Sixth in the charter race at state last year in 10:42.7.
Next up: Jace Lewis of Villages Charter, third here before this update; Shane Christian of Franklin Academy Cooper City; Aiden Lambright of Bay Haven Charter Academy.
Boys Club Top 5
1. RJ Destremps, Hillsborough Harriers, 8th grade - 10:08.4 at Jim Ryun (projects 9:30.5)
The best projection of any middle schooler in Florida. Won Jim Ryun and the Horse Park, where he ran 9:53.8, and was second to Matyka in the Roc race Friday in 9:52.9. Tenth in the club race at state last year in 10:01.6.
2. Tommy Schulte, Naples Elite, 8th grade - 10:19.3 at Jim Ryun (projects 9:41.4)
Third in the Roc race Friday in 9:54.5, 6.8 seconds behind Matyka and one place ahead of Lomoriello. Won North Port in 10:06.0 and the AVE Invite in 10:15.1, the AVE run for Gulfview Middle School, where he was 15th in the public race at state last year. Three Naples Elite races to one for Gulfview puts him here; he could run Public in November.
3. Warren Wilson, Sifted Sports, 8th grade - 10:46.9 at Seffner Christian (projects 10:02.1)
Fifth in the Roc race Friday in 10:07.2, one place ahead of Cardoso, which puts him above him here. Won the Run Florida and Indian River Fairgrounds middle school races. Twenty-sixth in the club race at state last year in 10:44.2.
4. Joao Cardoso, NEXT, 8th grade - 10:44.0 for two miles at the JT Memorial (projects 9:54.9)
Won the Osceola County varsity race for Neptune Middle School on September 30 in 10:35.8, then ran sixth in the Roc race at flrunners for NEXT two days later in 10:12.2. Two races for each. He ran the club race for Soldier City Striders at state last year, 13th in 10:14.1, and NEXT is the newer jersey, so he is here, but Neptune is a real option.
5. Maxwell Claypool, WIND Runners, 8th grade - 10:36.5 at Jim Ryun (projects 9:58.6)
Won the Friday middle school race at flrunners in 10:18.5, 11.7 seconds ahead of Brayden Milek in a field of 342. Second at North Port and second at the AVE Invite, both behind Schulte, the AVE run for Canterbury School in Fort Myers. Four WIND races to one for Canterbury; he ran the club race for WIND at state last year, 20th in 10:31.8.
Next up: Elliot Lasota of No Excuses RC, who won Cecil Field on opening night; Andrew LaHayne of NEXT and Harmony Middle School, second to Cardoso at Osceola County; Aidan Moylan of Imagine Town Center, who won the Craig Speziale middle school race on Saturday by 9.6 seconds.
Girls Public School Top 5
1. Brianna Motycka, Liberty Pines Academy, 8th grade - 11:07.2 at Jim Ryun (projects 10:29.3)
Won the Roc race at flrunners on Friday in 10:36.6, seven seconds ahead of Ilea, after winning Nights of Thunder over her in September. Three races, two wins, both over the girl below her. Two of her three races are for Liberty Pines Academy, a St. Johns County K-8, so she is here. She won the club race for No Excuses RC at state last year in 10:24.8, and we expect her to run Club for No Excuses again. If she does, Ilea leads Public and Motycka is the favorite in Club.
2. Alice Ilea, Tavares Middle School, 8th grade - 11:05.9 at Jim Ryun (projects 10:28.0)
Second to Motycka Friday in 10:43.6. Eleven races, eight wins, and the three losses are to Motycka twice and Heffernan once. She has raced under both the Red Sea Running Club and Tavares names, and they are one program. She won the public race at state last year in 10:42.2.
3. Esther Dobbin, Cocoa Beach, 8th grade - 19:59.7 for 5k at Astronaut (projects 10:43.8)
Five varsity 5ks for Cocoa Beach, a public school for grades 7 through 12, and no middle school race. She won her home meet on August 25 in 20:28.2, ran 19:25.7 for sixth at St. Cloud, and was third at Harmony on Saturday in 19:39.6. Astronaut, sixth in 19:59.7, gives her the best projection. She could enter the public race in November for Cocoa Beach or stay with the varsity.
4. Molly Joly, Marathon, 8th grade - 12:03.3 for two miles at the Marathon meet (projects 11:04.5)
Four varsity 5ks for Marathon, a public K-12, the best 20:42.9 for 23rd of 300 at Spanish River, and one middle school race, the two-mile at her school's own meet on September 24, won by almost two minutes in a field of 11. The two-mile is her best figure, and nobody else in that race has run a 3K this fall, so it is built on her alone. She ran unattached in the private race at state last year.
5. Acadia Hassell, Montford Middle School, 8th grade - seeded on 11:04.9 from state (projected)
Has not raced in 2026. Fourth in the public race at state last year, and the seed holds until she opens or somebody runs within a few seconds of it.
Next up: Zoie Hart of Emerald Coast, who won the Panhandle pre-conference meet and was fifth here before this update; Katelyn McIntyre of Nolan Middle School, who won Lakewood Ranch by 53 seconds; Mia Emhoff of Emerald Coast.
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Girls Private School Top 5
1. Charlotte Roy, All Saints' Academy (Winter Haven), 8th grade - 18:28.5 for 5k at St. Cloud (projects 10:22.9)
Three varsity 5ks, all in the top three: second of 126 at the Kowboy Invitational in 19:14.4, third of 151 at St. Cloud in 18:28.5, the fastest 5k by a Florida eighth-grade girl this fall, and a win at the SSAA meet on September 19 in 19:22.1. No middle school race. She and Geraghty have not met. All Saints' has a middle school, so the private race in November is open to her, and so is finishing the fall with the varsity.
2. Taylor Geraghty, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Melbourne), 8th grade - 18:34.3 for 5k at Great American (projects 10:26.1)
Won the 1A-2A girls' race at Spanish River in 18:50.7 on September 18, then won the Blue race at Great American in Cary on Saturday in 18:34.3. Five varsity 5ks, no middle school race. Same choice as her teammate Blumenberg: Holy Trinity's private-race entry in November, or the varsity.
3. Kylie Cook, All Saints' Academy (Winter Haven), 8th grade - 19:04.2 for 5k at the JT Memorial (projects 10:52.8)
Won the JT Memorial on September 11 in 19:04.2, and was seventh at Kowboy, eighth at St. Cloud and fourth at SSAA, behind her teammate Roy each time they raced.
4. Valentina Sarcos, Palmer Trinity, 8th grade - 11:43.0 for two miles at Superfly (projects 10:53.5)
Won the Spanish River middle school race in 10:56.6 in a field of 257, the Palmer Trinity meet by 60.7 seconds, and Superfly, then was second in the Jason Byrne 5K at flrunners on Saturday in 20:48.1, her first high school race of the fall. Three middle school races for Palmer Trinity and two for Miami Vice Project, so Private or Club in November is still hers to pick. Fifth in the private race at state last year for Conchita Espinosa in 11:36.9. None of the three girls above her has raced her.
5. Kaitlyn Conboy, Circle Christian School (Winter Park), 7th grade - 20:07.0 for 5k at Cecil Field (projects 11:00.7)
A seventh grader with four varsity 5ks: 20:07.0 in the elite race at Cecil Field, 20:12.8 for eighth at Hagerty, and a win at the Bulldog Invitational in 22:33.5. The Bulldog course reading moves that win to the front of her figures.
Next up: Natalie Kay and Reese Allen of Oak Hall; London Ross of Ransom Everglades, who was second here before the 5k runners were added. Cecilia Monzon and Mila Manguart of St. Theresa and Lia Kamar of Ransom Everglades, Nos. 3 to 5 before, are behind them.
Girls Charter School Top 5
1. Sophia Underwood, Liza Jackson Preparatory School, 7th grade - 12:03.2 for two miles at Pineview (projects 10:56.9)
Four races, four wins, the latest the Destin Middle School Invitational on September 30 in 12:29.6 for two miles, 1:48.9 ahead of her teammate Harper Atstupenas. She won the private race at state last year for Saint Mary Catholic in 11:01.2; Liza Jackson is a Fort Walton Beach charter. She has not raced anybody else on these lists.
2. Sophia Ramirez, Mason Classical Academy (Naples), 8th grade - 21:32.8 for 5k at the MIA Invitational (projects 11:40.1)
One race on the page: second in the girls' 5k at the MIA Invitational on Saturday in 21:32.8, for Mason Classical's varsity. One run is a thin sample, and she holds this spot by two seconds over Harder.
3. Reagan Harder, Jacksonville Classical Academy, 7th grade - 12:27.3 at Cecil Field (projects 11:42.1)
Fourth at Cecil Field, seventh at the Horse Park and sixth at Nights of Thunder, three of the deepest middle school fields of the fall.
4. Caylin Denis, Imagine School at North Port, 6th grade - 21:19.9 for 5k at Wellen Park (projects 11:44.2)
A sixth grader who races varsity 5ks for Imagine's high school team: 21:07.2 at North Port, 21:19.9 for 11th at Wellen Park, her best projection, and sixth in the North Port Invite middle school 3K in 12:31.1. The only sixth grader in any of the eight top fives.
5. Lia Chaustre, True North Classical Academy (Miami), 7th grade - 21:42.2 for 5k at King of the Hill (projects 11:48.7)
Tenth in the women's 5k at King of the Hill in 21:42.2, sixth in the Spanish River middle school race in 11:58.3, and second at the Palmer Trinity middle school meet. Ninth in the charter race at state last year in 11:55.0.
Next up: Haven Smith and Jayne McCarthy of Cornerstone Classical, third and fourth here before this update; Ava Miller of Cornerstone Charter Academy; Aubrey Bollenback of Villages Charter.
Girls Club Top 5
1. Colette Heffernan, No Excuses RC, 7th grade - 10:44.2 at Cecil Field (projects 9:59.0)
Three races, three wins: Cecil Field, the Horse Park in 10:17.8 over Ilea, and Bale N Trail by 49.2 seconds over Flood. The best projection of any middle school girl in the state. She has not raced Motycka. She ran the public race for Landrum Middle School at state last year, third in 10:46.4, and she could run for the club or for her school in November.
2. Amelia Flood, No Excuses RC, 8th grade - 11:23.0 at Cecil Field (projects 10:37.8)
Second to Heffernan at Cecil Field and second to her again at Bale N Trail in 11:12.1. Sixth in the club race at state last year in 11:20.0.
3. Camila Boucher, Boca Warriors Track Club, 8th grade - 11:11.3 at Nights of Thunder (projects 11:02.2)
Won the Friday race at flrunners in 11:11.8 by 2.3 seconds over Del Mazo, which puts her above her here, and was second to Sarcos at Spanish River. Ran the club race for Palm Beach Elite at state last year, 20th in 12:08.6.
4. Emily Del Mazo, WIND Runners, 7th grade - 11:27.3 at Jim Ryun (projects 10:49.4)
Second by 2.3 seconds to Boucher in the Friday race at flrunners in 11:14.1, in a field of 265, after winning North Port and the AVE Invite, the AVE run for Community School of Naples. Three WIND races to one for the school. She ran the club race for Gulf Coast Runners at state last year, third in 11:06.6.
5. Bailey Eggleston, Hillsborough Harriers, 8th grade - 11:53.8 at Jim Ryun (projects 11:15.9)
Third in the Roc race at flrunners Friday in 11:43.5, behind Motycka and Ilea, and second at Running on the Range. She ran the private race for St. John's Episcopal Day School at state last year in 13:00.2 and is almost two minutes better now.
Next up: Madelen Finch of No Excuses RC, second in the club race at state last year; Mia Kopcikova of Imagine Town Center, who won the Craig Speziale middle school race on Saturday by 50.4 seconds; Arielle Gorlovetzky of Boca Warriors, a sixth grader.
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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 3. Two-mile races and the 3.2K at Alexander are converted to 3K before anything else happens.
- Middle schoolers who race high school 5ks are in too. Each 5k is leveled for its course with the same readings as our high school lists, then divided by the 5k-to-3K ratio of the middle schoolers who have raced both this fall, about 1.80 for boys and girls alike, from 294 boys and 186 girls. A kid with both kinds of race keeps the better figure. That bridge is the least certain step here, so an order between a 5k runner and a 3K runner a few seconds apart is a coin flip.
- Each course gets a reading from the kids who ran it this fall and ran the state meet last November; small samples are pulled toward the statewide average. Three races count for finishing order only, not for time: the Oak Park meet, the Todd Howsare middle school race and the third Volusia County meet, where every runner we can compare ran well under their times everywhere else.
- Division: the team a runner has raced for most this fall. A club is Club; a school is that school's division, public, private or charter; a program's own division at last year's state meet stands where it raced one. Red Sea Running Club is Tavares Middle School. Runners with both a club and a school this fall are noted in their entry and move when their program enters. A kid who has raced only for a high school team is in that school's division, and the entry says they could stay with the varsity instead. Fifth graders are on the elementary lists only.
- Inside each division, projections set the order, then a runner who beat a higher-ranked runner in their most recent meeting, at either distance, moves directly above them, and the result stands until the two race again. Finishing orders from August no longer bind anyone. A raced mark within five seconds of a seeded state time outranks the seed. A missed meet is never held against anyone.
- One athlete, one page: a kid who raced under two team names is one runner in the results database, each result keeping the team it was run in, and the athlete page lists the other teams.
Every result behind these lists is in the Florida XC results database. The statewide middle school top 10s: week 6 middle school and elementary rankings. The team race by division: the FLYRA checkpoint.