SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Expectations are what you make them.

Christ School ran like a team with nothing to prove Saturday, calm and collected in winning the International Division of the Eye Opener cross country meet with 27 points, 87 fewer than the second-place team in a field of 45 schools.

They don’t call it “TrackTown U.S.A.” for nothing.

The birthplace of Nike. The college town where legends of mythical proportions like Bill Bowerman and Steve Prefontaine made their names. The site of a venue in Hayward Field that is considered a Mecca for those who follow the sport. 

And now Eugene, Oregon will be the college home for Brooks Barbee ’27.   

Congratulations to Brooks, who announced his verbal commitment to the University of Oregon's cross country and track & field programs on Tuesday. 

A sign of the times. His times. 

New Balance announced Tuesday that it has signed Brooks Barbee ‘27 to a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal for high school cross country and track & field. 

ASHEVILLE - Coach Ashley and the boys didn’t get dressed up for nothing Sunday night at the Omni Grove Park Inn. 

Christ School cross country was named the Blue Ridge Division of EmergeOrtho Division II Male Team Sport winner at the 64th annual Western North Carolina Sports Awards. 

Congratulations to Noah Clancy ’26, who announced through his Instagram that he has committed to run cross country and track for Iona University. 

Noah is from Maggie Valley, N.C., and the eighth Christ School senior to make a college sports commitment. 

From the trails and track in Arden to footing on a national stage, Christ School cross country has covered some ground recently. 

The statistics are unbiased and well-documented by now. The best individual runner in state history (Rocky Hansen ’23) comes from the same high school as North Carolina’s all-time fastest team (the 2025 Greenies).  

It can’t be a coincidence. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association agrees. 

The USTFCCCA has named Christ School’s Randy Ashley as its 2025 N.C. Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year. 

PORTLAND – About the time Christ School shook off any lingering jet lag, there was still a matter of a waterlogged course and the stoutest competition the Greenies had seen all season long.  

PORTLAND - Imagine being on the opposite side of the country and still being able to watch a brother have one of the biggest race performances of his career.

In person, nonetheless.

All seven runners on the Asheville Citizen-Times All-Western North Carolina Team?

Nothing less computes with a historic season for Christ School cross country that is stretching into December. 

Cross country takes on a whole new meaning for Christ School in the first weekend back from Thanksgiving Break.

The Greenies will make the trek to Portland for Saturday morning’s Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) meet, by virtue of winning the Southeast regional championship over break.

Announcing the 2025 Fall Sports All-Academic Team, coming on the heels of the best-ever seasons for soccer and cross country, which still has next month’s Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) in Portland. Every one of these Greenies carries a weighted grade-point average above 4.0, exemplifying the true student-athlete experience at Christ School. 

CARY, N.C. - By any name, it’s history in the rear-view with Portland on the horizon.  

Christ School cross country chose the pseudo moniker, “Royal Pines Distance Project” as an homage to the place, and the hard training, the team has put into this program-defining season. 
 

CARY, N.C. – A momentous day for a program which is on the rise not only statewide and regionally, but nationally. 

Christ School cross country continued its undefeated season by winning today's Nike Cross Regionals (NXR) Southeast championship for the first time in Cary, N.C., with 72 points. 

Lowering times and moving up in national rankings. 

Such is the cause and effect of a season that is very much ongoing for Christ School cross country. The newly crowned NCISAA 4-A state champions became only the second team in school history to attain a top-5 national ranking Thursday. 

LOUISVILLE – What was Rocky Hansen ’23 this Halloween?

A runaway ACC champion.

CHARLOTTE – Living up to expectations does not necessarily mean coexisting with the pressure they bring.

Christ School cross country did not look bogged down by any mental or physical inhibitors Friday, completing its first-ever undefeated season in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association. 

MECHANICSVILLE, Va. – North Carolina, South Carolina, and now Virginia. 

Christ School won its third major invitational in as many states Saturday morning, this time returning home with the Virginia Cross Country Showcase championship.

Goals beyond the Carolinas Athletic Association compel this Christ School cross country team. 

The duality could be seen Wednesday afternoon – the Greenies gave proper respect to hosting the CAA Championship Meet but also conserved some energy in winning their fourth straight title with a perfect score (15 points). 

A change of pace in every sense. 

Christ School cross country’s runners finally got to race the same grounds they train on Tuesday – the team’s first home meet of the season was Senior Night for Noah Clancy ’26 and Lansing Lewis ’26. And the stakes were relatively low-key, considering some of the competition the team has seen since August. 

CARY - Another epic weekend race, another head-turning milestone win.

Many who follow the sport consider the Great American Cross Country Festival’s Race of Champions to be the Southeast’s premier meet. Christ School won it Saturday for the first time in school history with 150 points, edging second-place Jesuit (156 points) out of New Orleans.