SWANNANOA – Reynolds Young ’27 could predict the twists and turns of a new course better than most runners Wednesday.
The U.S. Air Force Academy recruit won the Carolinas Athletic Association Championship in 16 minutes, 11.80 seconds, with runner-up Jack Dennehy ’27 (16:12.20) pushing Reynolds through the race’s final steps.
For the past decade, the CAA championship in cross country has defaulted to the campus of Asheville Christian Academy. Wednesday’s meet was the first of that stature to be held at ACA since the campus was submerged by the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Reynolds began his high school career with the Lions, coming over in 2025 to help Christ School win the CAA cross country championship with a perfect score (15 points) for only the third time. He and the Greenies did it a fourth time Wednesday with Carl Baird ’27 (third place, 16:21.30), Brooks Barbee ’27 (fourth, 16:21.30), and Timmy McDowell ’27 (fifth, 16:29.20) also counting towards the team score.
Christ School has gone on to a state championship every year the Greenies have won the CAA with a perfect score (2021, 2022, and 2025), and all signs are pointing to a positive result for October 30. This year’s NCISAA 4-A state championship meet returns to Charlotte's McAlpine Creek Park, where the Greenies were the victors in 2025.
Cross country’s current streak of conference championships (six) is the longest in the program’s history.
Carolinas Athletic Association Championship Meet
Wednesday at Asheville Christian Academy
BOYS
Team scores
1. Christ School 15; 2. Rabun Gap (Ga.) 64; 3. Asheville Christian Academy 78; 4. Asheville School 106; 5. Carolina Day 127.
Individual results
All-Conference Team
1. Reynolds Young 16:11.80; 2. Jack Dennehy 16:12.20; 3. Carl Baird 16:21.30; 4. Brooks Barbee 16:21.30; 5. Timmy McDowell 16:29.20; 6. Dallas Reeves 16:29.20; 7. Brody Webb 16:39.40; 8. Ben Graham 16:48.80.
Other Christ School runners
13. Seth McGowin 18:23.20; 39. Grady Midkiff 22:46.60; 40. Max Dionne 23:06.50.