(INDEPENDENCE, Ky.) — New Covenant Christian Academy’s cross-country program showcased its depth and talent Saturday at the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association State Championship, bringing home multiple team trophies and individual medals across all age divisions.
Sophomore Shadow Smith led the Lions’ efforts, claiming second place in the varsity 5K race with a time of 19:27.39 at Community Christian Academy. The varsity boys’ team, competing in only their second year in the KCAA, finished third overall among nine schools.
“We started because we believe it teaches discipline, perseverance, and trains your mind to be mentally tough,” said Megan Thomas, one of three mothers who founded the program nine years ago as a simple running club.
The middle school boys captured the day’s most impressive victory, taking home the first-place team trophy. Seventh-grader Graham Lawrence finished second individually with a time of 12:17.52 in the 3K race, while teammates JD Thomas placed fifth and Braxton Lawrence took ninth.
NCCA’s elementary runners swept both upper elementary divisions. Fifth-grader Maklayne Holt of Benton led the girls to victory with a first-place individual finish in 10:28.38 in the 2,000-meter race. The boys’ team also claimed first place, with fifth-graders Herman Gross and Lincoln Smith finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
The younger elementary girls earned a second-place team finish, led by third-grader Maryn Holt’s fourth-place performance.
What began as a “running club” started by Thomas, Brandy Lawrence, and Tiffany Stanger after completing a Ragnar Relay Race together has evolved into a competitive cross country program spanning kindergarten through high school.
“We wanted to build community, Lions’ pride, and we wanted to do it for our children,” said Stanger, who continues coaching the elementary teams. “We wanted to build something alongside them.”
The program has grown as NCCA has expanded its enrollment and athletics offerings. The school, which opened in 2010 and is located at 218 College St. in Hardin, now offers multiple sports including archery, basketball, cheerleading, FFA, golf, and track alongside its cross country program.
Varsity coach Josh Revell, an NCCA math teacher, guided the high school team that includes several runners who participated in that original running club nine years ago.
In the varsity race, sophomore George Thomas finished 15th and junior Eli Stanger placed 20th, contributing to the team’s third-place finish. Junior Rebekah Blalock took fifth in the middle school girls’ race.
This marked the first year NCCA brought elementary teams to the KCAA state championship and the second year for middle and high school competition.