Kermes rallies North Carolina quartet to victory over Saratoga Springs in DMR in last race of 11-year coaching career for Walsh, who leaves program with four girls national relay championships in his final year at Cuthbertson

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by John Nepolitan

PHILADELPHIA – If every spectator at New Balance Nationals Outdoor understood the context Sunday of exactly what they were witnessing during the girls distance medley relay championship, and how powerful a moment it was, perhaps it would have garnered even more appreciation.

If each dad sitting in the bleachers at Franklin Field was aware of what Cuthbertson High of North Carolina coach Kirk Walsh was feeling as not only the father of his own two children, but also as a mentor and supporter of the Carolina Cavaliers’ quartet of Alyssa Preisano, Justine Preisano, Charlotte Bell and Stella Kermes, perhaps their come-from-behind victory would have evoked more emotions from those men on Father’s Day.

And if all the coaches guiding their student-athletes at the four-day event had the opportunity to write a script as to how they would want their final career meet or race to unfold, perhaps they all would have asked Walsh if his Hollywood ending could ever be topped.

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Walsh walked off the stadium infield inside the historic facility at University of Pennsylvania having wiped happy tears from his eyes and with a smile on his face, wearing a T-shirt with the appropriate phrase, “I’m about to do something awesome.”

For 11 minutes, 33.18 seconds, Walsh watched the Carolina Cavaliers achieve something truly amazing and awe-inspiring, as Kermes overcame a 4.76-second deficit on the anchor leg against Emily Bush of Kinetic Track Club – representing Saratoga Springs High in New York – to not only produce the emotional victory, but to send the 11-year Cuthbertson coach out, for the final time, as a national champion.

Kermes split 4:48.28 for the final 1,600 meters, helping the Cuthbertson girls prevail against four members of reigning Nike Cross Nationals champions Saratoga Springs (11:37.67) and elevate to No. 10 all-time outdoors in U.S. prep history, as Walsh guided the group for the final time, having announced in April that he would be stepping down as head coach following the end of the season to focus on his health and spend more time with family.

The DMR was the third relay in four days that Cuthbertson athletes ran, in addition to Bell, Kermes and Justine Preisano also competing in the mile Saturday. Kermes placed 10th in 4:45.76, Justine Preisano finished 20th in 4:51.65 and Bell took 40th in 4:59.46.

The Carolina Cavaliers also won the 4xMile Relay with a 20:05.91 performance Thursday and placed second Friday in the 4x800 relay against Union Catholic of New Jersey by an 8:47.08 to 8:48.16 margin in a rematch of their historic March 9 showdown at New Balance Nationals Indoor in Boston, won by Cuthbertson by an 8:48.02 to 8:48.86 margin in a race that produced the fastest two indoor marks in U.S. prep history. 

All of this in addition to Alyssa Preisano wearing a walking boot on her left foot in between races after running a combined 5 miles and relying significantly on cross training in the five weeks ahead of the meet as a result of injury, in order to keep the title hopes for the Carolina Cavaliers alive.

Justine Preisano, Bell and Kermes were all scheduled to run the 800 as well Sunday, but after coming to a group agreement Saturday night, the Cuthbertson girls sent a text message to Walsh, deciding to focus all their remaining energy at the end of an emotionally fulfilling, but physically demanding season on taking down one of the biggest remaining targets on their all-time wish list with a DMR matchup against Sheridan Wheeler, McKinley Wheeler, Alycia Hart and Bush from three-time NXN winner Saratoga Springs.

The pursuit of completing an indoor and outdoor sweep of New Balance DMR championships didn’t offer much optimism for Walsh and the Carolina Cavaliers on the opening 1,200-meter leg, with Sheridan Wheeler building an advantage of more than five seconds against Bell.

Justine Preisano was able to cut a half-second off the deficit over the next 400 meters, before her sister Alyssa remained within contact of Hart throughout the 800-meter leg, with both athletes producing identical 2:14.22 splits.

That left Kermes with four laps to chase the leader, gradually closing the gap in the first 1,000 meters, before not only catching up to the Kinetic anchor, but passing Bush before the bell, powering her way to an impressive finish and the ideal conclusion for one of the most decorated lineups in U.S. prep history.

Bell, Kermes and Preisano sisters won the 4x800 championship last year at Nike Indoor Nationals, followed by 4x800 and DMR titles in March in Boston and capped with 4xMile and DMR crowns in Philadelphia, setting state records and producing national all-time marks every step of the way.

Alyssa Preisano, just like Walsh, will also move on from Cuthbertson, attending Wake Forest in the fall.

Bell, Kermes and Justine Preisano return for the Cavaliers, trying to continue to build on a dynastic run of five consecutive state cross country titles.

Walsh confirmed following Sunday’s race that he will stay connected with the program and remain Cuthbertson’s biggest supporter.

But after more than a decade of taking on the role of nurturing, mentoring and guiding student-athletes from his extended family, it was now the right opportunity for Walsh to step away to devote more time to his wife and children.

The applause from hundreds of supportive spectators at Franklin Field after Kermes broke the finish-line tape gave the Carolina Cavaliers the respect and recognition they deserved.

But it was the group hug and photo opportunities that meant most to Walsh, the Cuthbertson quartet and their families before departing the stadium in search of celebratory ice cream.

Even if the rest of the officials, coaches, student-athletes and fans didn’t know exactly why the moment they all witnessed was so significant, perhaps the most awesome thing Walsh did for Bell, Kermes and the Preisano sisters Sunday was simply giving them the courage and confidence to step on the starting line one more time.

And the Carolina Cavaliers rewarded one lucky father and coach with a great present and the most fitting conclusion to a storied career.