CARY, N.C. – A great American race. A great American team.
Christ School defended its No. 1 national ranking Saturday by winning the Great American Cross Country Festival’s aptly-named COROS Race of Champions for the second year in a row.
In warm and dry conditions, the Greenies (83 points) nearly halved their first-place score from 2025 (150), which was the breakout race that first put them on the nationwide radar. Miami’s Belen Jesuit (117) was perhaps better-equipped for Saturday's heat, but nevertheless relegated to runner-up status for the second year in a row. Belen Jesuit came into Saturday ranked No. 6 in the country and had the overall race winner in Marcelo Mantecon (14 minutes, 35.90 seconds).
University of Oregon recruit Brooks Barbee ’27 hung with Mantecon and the lead pack for much of the race, finishing with a big personal record and the third-fastest time in school history (14:40.80).
Jack Dennehy ’27 (16th place, 15:12.20), who announced a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with race sponsor COROS earlier this week, was Christ School’s second scoring runner. He was followed by Reynolds Young ’27 (29th, 15:28.20), Ben Graham ’27 (35th, 15:34.20), Dallas Reeves ’27 (52nd, 15:43.90), Timmy McDowell ’27 (93rd, 16:11.00), Brody Webb ’27 (16:25.50), and Carl Baird ’27 (168th, 16:46.40).
Saturday was only the second race of the season that the team has run at full exertion. The Greenies are saving their best ideally for postseason competition that will follow the NCISAA 4-A state meet on October 30 in Charlotte.
Great American Cross Country Festival
COROS Race of Champions – Boys
Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, N.C.
Team scores
1. Christ School 83; 2. Belen Jesuit 117; 3. Calvert Hall 174; 4. Broughton 187; 5. Castle View 232; 6. Cardinal Gibbons 286; 7. Nease 291; 8. Blacksburg 296; 9. Western Albemarle 307; 10. Xavier 310; 11. Flower Mound 336; 12. Cuthbertson 398; 13. Jesuit 420; 14. Marvin Ridge 420; 15. Sherwood 430; 16. Harrison 461; 17. Brookwood 504; 18. Buchholz 533; 19. St. John’s College 606; 20. Richmond Hill 611; 21. McCallie 622; 22. West Ranch 643; 23. Athens Drive 646; 24. James W. Robinson 657; 25. Kellam 685; 26. Apex Friendship 686; 27. Spanish River 686; 28. North Raleigh Christian Academy 687; 29. Chapel Hill 710; 30. IMG Academy 755; 31. Gainesville 781; 32. Marist 785; 33. Walton 816; 34. Grafton 865; 35. Ardrey Kell 906; 36. Oakton 961; 37. Croatan 979; 38. Hickory Ridge 980; 39. Willow Spring 996; 40. Colonial Forge 1,163.
Individual results (Christ School runners)
3. Brooks Barbee 14:40.80; 16. Jack Dennehy 15:12.20; 29. Reynolds Young 15:28.20; 35. Ben Graham 15:34.20; 52. Dallas Reeves 15:43.90; 93. Timmy McDowell 16:11.00; 122. Brody Webb 16:25.50; 168. Carl Baird 16:46.60.