Belen Jesuit's Tiago Socarras is the Miami-Dade Boys' Track and Field Athlete of the Year
But as he progressed through his running career, Socarras became more of a leader while developing into one of the top distance runners in the state of Florida.
That's what made his senior season extra special.
Not only did Socarras finish his final meet in a Wolverines uniform with a pair of individual state titles, he played a vital role in helping Belen Jesuit secure a long sought after team state championship.
Socarras, who is headed to the University of Pennsylvania this fall, is the Miami Herald's Boys' Track and Field Athlete of the Year for Miami-Dade County.
Socarras, a key contributor on the Belen cross-country team in recent years, has been a part of multiple state team titles in that sport. But winning team titles in track and field is less common at Belen.
That changed last month when Socarras' victories in the 800 and 1,600 meter races at state helped the Wolverines secure their first state team championship since 2007.
'It was really special and the team title meant even more than any other individual title,' Socarras said. 'The double was pretty special too and the experience was great. It was amazing and the greatest way to cap a high school career.'
Socarras ran a time of 1:52.27 to win the 800 meter race at the Class 3A meet. He dominated the event during the season, and ran the fastest time in the state this season in the event in April at the Arcadia Invitational (1:47.66).
Socarras won the 1,600 meters earlier in the meet with a time of 4:10.11. His successful track season followed a strong performance in cross-country. At state in November, Socarras finished third individually and ran a season-best time of 15:12 in the 5K race.
Next, Socarras will try to carry over what he learned from his experiences at Belen to the track and cross-country programs at Penn while studying finance.
'I'm definitely excited because academically it's an amazing school,' said Socarras, who had previously been recruited by multiple programs including Duke. 'So far in track and field, they haven't done too much, but hoping to go up and change that.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Spartans Wire Big Ten Football Preseason Media Poll, Awards
Check out our Spartans Wire Big Ten football preseason media poll and awards for the upcoming season Big Ten Football Media Days are nearly upon us so that means its time to unveil some rankings and preseason predictions. Annually, will compile an official media poll and preseason awards that is released just ahead of the Big Ten Football Media Days. Us three at Spartans Wire are unfortunately not included in that media poll, but, who says we can't let our voices be heard? So with that being said, we are releasing our own preseason poll and awards this year. See where we have the Spartans landing and who we envision having the most impactful seasons on the field below: Our Media Poll Here is our preseason rankings for all 18 teams in the Big Ten: ***Voting system is based on highest ranked team receiving 18 points, second-highest ranked team receiving 17 points and following that sequence to the last-place team receiving one point Thoughts on Michigan State To no surprise, the group of writers who closely follow Michigan State is higher on the Spartans than the national and regional media. Michigan State came in at No. 8 in our rankings, with none of us having the Spartans lower than No. 9 in our Big Ten rankings. It'll be interesting to see next week where the Spartans land in the official Big Ten media poll but I can almost assure you it won't be in the upper half of the league like us. With that being said, the Spartans' struggles over the past few seasons will heavily play a role in that official media poll, where as our poll is forecasting Michigan State to take a notable positive step this upcoming fall. Number of College Football Playoff teams from Big Ten Here is our preseason picks for number of teams to reach the College Football Playoff this year: Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Here is our preseason picks for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Here is our preseason picks for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Big Ten Freshman of the Year Here is our preseason picks for Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Forbes
21 hours ago
- Forbes
10 High School Track And Field Athletes Who Were Competitive On A World Level In 2025
Arcadia, CA - April 12: Jane Hedengren of Timpview (Utah) wins the women's 2 mile invitational ... More during the 2025 Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 12, 2025.(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) MediaNews Group via Getty Images A new age of track and field athletes is growing up before our eyes, and in 2025 we witnessed one of the most talented crops in some time. From a legendary season in Utah from Brigham Young University recruit Jane Hedengren, to a best-in-show sprint campaign from Texan Tate Taylor, here are 10 high school athletes who changed the game in 2025. And when we say changed the game, we mean this : Every single one of these teenagers were competitive on a world level. So what does that mean in the immediate future? With the U.S. Outdoor Championships fast approaching on July 31 in Eugene, Oregon, we could see a few of these athletes step to the line and compete for spots on Team USA ahead of the World Championships in September in Tokyo. Dumas, a high school junior from Voorhees, New Jersey, made a massive impression over her final high school competition of the 2025 season, winning three individual championships in the 400 meters, the 800 meters, and the 400 meter hurdles at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. What's more, Dumas ran times that were respectable on the world stage, clocking efforts of 51.14 (World No. 59), 2:00.11 (World No. 75) and 55.99 (World No. 64). Interestingly enough, Dumas' performance in the 400 meters surpassed a New Jersey state record formerly held by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. 9. Dana Wilson, Greensboro Day School (NC) By the end of the 2025 high school season, Wilson was the sixth-best performer in prep history over 100 meters, with a personal best time of 11.02 seconds. Coming from a small prep school in Greensboro, North Carolina, Wilson searched for the best competition to run against – which led to outings at the Pepsi Florida Relays and the USATF Under-20 Championships – and that strategy proved fruitful, because she finished the year with the nation's No. 1 and No. 2 performances at 100 and 200 meters. Her time over 100 meters stands as the 36th-best effort in the world. 8. Brayden Williams, Duncanville (TX) No one in high school history has run as fast as Brayden Williams. That is technically true. When it comes to the fastest wind-aided 100 meter time in prep history, the 18-year-old from Duncanville High School achieved that feat, stopping the clock in 9.82 seconds in April during a postseason race in Texas. Williams went on to finish second at the Texas State Championships – only to Tate Taylor (who's No. 3 on this list) – pocketed three sub-10 performances (all wind-aided) over the spring, and won the USATF Under-20 100 meter championship in Eugene. He's off to the University of Georgia in the fall. 7. Owen Powell, Mercer Island (WA) Ever since Alan Webb exploded on the scene and set a new high school national record in the mile in 2001 – clocking a remarkable time of 3:53.43 that still stands today – high school boys have been trying to recreate that magical season. Many have tried since, and many have not quite reached that apex. What Webb did manage to do, however, was re-set the bar for others to go after the sub-4 mile. Powell, the son of University of Washington coaches Andy and Maurica Powell, was the best of the American high schoolers in 2025, hitting a top time of 3:56.66 indoors and 3:58.12 outdoors on his way to the record books – the first accounting for a new national indoor record and the second landing at No. 7 all-time outdoors. He also ran 1:46.63 for 800 meters and 3:36.49 for 1,500 meters, with the latter achieving the No. 2 mark in prep history and reaching No. 161 on the world list (as it currently stands). 6. Jackson Cantwell, Nixa (MO) Not only did Cantwell have one of the greatest high school throwing seasons in history, earning the second-best shot put mark of all-time in 76 feet, 11.25 inches, but the Nixa High School junior was also the No. 1 football recruit in the country – and better yet, he was only 16 years old. The 6-foot-8 and roughly 280 pound offensive lineman is headed off to the University of Miami in December, where he could spend one more season throwing before he commits full-time to football – and if that happens Cantwell would be throwing at the age of a traditional high school senior. Let's hope that happens. Both of Cantwell's parents – Christian and Teri – were track and field Olympians, with Christian earning Olympic silver in 2008 and a World Championship title outdoors in 2009. While Cantwell's football future seems incredibly bright, there's no question his shot put mark mark in May at the Missouri State Outdoor Championships will go down as one of the craziest throws of all-time – it's only roughly four feet shy of Michael Carter's 46-year-old national record of 81 feet and 3.5 inches. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Sadie Engelhardt (USA) places fifth in women's 1,500m heat in ... More 4:08.87 during the Sound Running Sunset Tour at Jack Kemp Stadium at Occidental College on July 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Getty Images 5. Sadie Engelhardt, Ventura (CA) The teenager from California made the unique decision to opt out of high school competition in 2025, both to avoid over-racing and create additional opportunities against professional competition. That wasn't necessarily a bad decision. The North Carolina State University recruit competed in professional fields at the Millrose Games, Track Fest, the Music City Distance Carnival and the Sunset Tour, with the final event producing Engelhardt's top time at the 1,500 meter distance this year in 4:08.87. In June, she also clocked an 800 meter time of 2:02.50. Considering Engelhardt competed U.S. Olympic Trials in 2024, we just may see her line up at the U.S. Outdoor Championships. RENTON, WASHINGTON - JUNE 12: Boys 800m winner Cooper Lutkenhaus (C) poses with runner-up Patrick ... More Hilby (L) and third-place finisher Trey Sato during the Brooks PR Invitational at Renton Memorial Stadium on June 12, 2024 in Renton, Washington. (Photo by) Getty Images 4. Cooper Lutkenhaus, Northwest (TX) Not since Michael Granville has a high school athlete taken the 800 meter distance by such a storm. And even grander: Lutkenhaus has done it at the tender age of 16. The Texas teenager, a rising high school junior at Northwest High School near Fort Worth, became the only American high schooler in history to surpass the 1:46 barrier for the distance in June, clocking a new high school record of 1:45.45 at the USATF U20 Championships. Granville's former national record of 1:46.45 had held since 1996. Now Lutkenhaus is entered in the men's 800 meters in the U.S. Outdoor Championships. Maybe it's a stretch to think the Texan can compete for a bid to the World Championships – but hey, crazier things have happened. Lutkenhaus will face up against World Indoor champion Josh Hoey, world qualifier Brandon Miller and former NCAA champion Shane Cohen. 3. Tate Taylor, Harlan (TX) Taylor's season may be over – he's not currently entered in the men's 100 meters at the U.S. Outdoor Championships – though he surely left a mark by season's end. In May, the 17-year-old high school junior from Harlan became the fastest high schooler in history when he ran a wind-legal 9.92 seconds at the Texas State Outdoor Championships – former record-holder, Issam Asinga, is currently holding a 4-year doping hand-out following a failed drug test following his record 9.89 from the South American Championships in 2023. That 100 meter time by Taylor still stands as the ninth-fastest performance in the world and is the fastest under-18 effort in history. Taylor ran just once more after the Texas State Championships, clocking a time of 10.10 for 100 meters. THE 2025 ESPYS PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE - Hosted by comedian, actor and writer Shane Gillis who will ... More bring his comedic energy to the stage as he joins a star-studded group to celebrate the most memorable moments in sports. "The ESPYS" will air live from The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and will stream live on ESPN+. (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ADDISON HALPERN, JANE HEDENGREN, SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty Images) Disney via Getty Images 2. Jane Hedengren, Provo Timpiew (UT) Hedengren is not entered in the U.S. Outdoor Championships yet. But that isn't to say she won't be by deadline day. And what a show it will be if she's in the picture. The high school graduate from Provo Timpview High School – a five-star recruit headed for Brigham Young University – may have just concluded the most impressive high school girls campaigns in history, claiming high school national records in the mile, 3,000 meters, two mile and 5,000 meters. She's ranked top 20 in the world in the mile, top 50 in the 3,000 meters and inside the top 60 at 5,000 meters. And that last performance? With a time of 14:57.93, she became the first American high school athlete to break 15 minutes in history – an achievement she probably didn't even have on her bucket list. She's also the fastest woman in the world for two miles with a time of 9:17.75 – though that's a time very few women run over the season. There have been other high school superstars over the last 20 years, including the likes of Mary Cain, Alexa Efraimson and Katelyn Tuohy. But none were as versatile, and as supremely prolific, as Hedengren. WASHINGTON, DC-MARCH 18: Quincy Wilson of Bullis High School is boys track , All Met Player of ... More the Year photographed in Washington, DC on March 18, 2025. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post via Getty Images 1. Quincy Wilson, Bullis School (MD) The only 2024 Olympian on this list, Wilson is in pristine form just a few weeks out from the U.S. Outdoor Championships. On July 12, he re-set his own world under-18 record at 400 meters, unlocking a time of 44.10 seconds at the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis Tennessee – a performance which now stands fourth in the world. The 17-year-old is also undoubtedly a threat to make the U.S. team at the distance. And even if he ultimately finishes outside the top three finishers at USAs, Wilson will no doubt be in the running for the World Championship relay pool if he reaches the 400 meter final and accounts himself well. Wilson finished fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials last June and was picked as an Olympian. He eventually ran in the 4x400 first round in Paris and contributed to the American's gold-winning effort. But after a hamstring injury downplayed his involvement, the Bullis School star no doubt is looking to redeem himself. So what can we expect? As a 16-year-old, Wilson clocked times of 44.66, 44.59 and 44.94 over 400 meters to finish fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials last June. If he's anyone close to that, we're in for a wild show.
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Philadelphia Eagles win ESPY award for Best Team of the Year
The reigning Super Bowl champions are taking home some more hardware The 2024-25 Philadelphia Eagles will be widely remembered as one of the most talented teams in NFL history. They already have a Lombardi Trophy to show for it, and will now bring home an ESPY as well, winning the Best Team award on Wednesday. The Eagles beat out the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Liberty, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma City Thunder, Florida Panthers, and more. Philadelphia famously stopped a historic three-peat in Super Bowl LIX, beating down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to claim the franchise's second championship. They tied an NFL record with 18 wins last year (regular season and playoffs combined) while also boasting the league's No. 1 defense. This is the Eagles' second ESPY award of the night, with Saquon Barkley's backward hurdle winning Best Play of the Year.
