Quartet representing Cuthbertson High builds momentum toward 4x800 showdown by winning national title, with fellow North Carolina standout Shaffer securing girls 5,000 crown; Monroe-Woodbury rallies around injured Catherwood to earn boys 4xMile Relay victory and DiCola triumphs in home state

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

PHILADELPHIA – An inspired performance by a New York quartet, an ambitious effort by a Pennsylvania standout and a strong showing by several North Carolina female athletes Thursday highlighted the opening night of New Balance Nationals Outdoor at Franklin Field.

Justine Preisano, Alyssa Preisano, Stella Kermes and Charlotte Bell of the Carolina Cavaliers, representing Cuthbertson High in North Carolina, delivered a dominant victory in the girls 4xMile Relay to triumph in 20 minutes, 5.91 seconds, captured a national championship in the final meet for veteran distance coach Kirk Walsh, who announced in April he is stepping down from leading the elite national program at the end of the season.

LIVE WEBCAST INFO | EVENT VIDEOS | BIG BOARD | INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

Cuthbertson eclipsed last year’s mark of 20:08.61 achieved by Purple Track Club, representing Ann Arbor Pioneer High in Michigan, to set a North Carolina state outdoor all-time mark and elevate to the No. 15 girls outdoor program in U.S. prep history.

The same Cuthbertson quartet ran 19:55.21 in the 4xMile in March at New Balance Nationals Indoor in Boston, placing second to Flower Mound from Texas, which prevailed in 19:50.34.

Purple Track Club’s Emily Cooper, Natalie Mello, Sylvia Sanok Dufallo and Rachel Forsyth placed second behind the Carolina Cavaliers in 20:26.23, with the Louisville Rams – representing DuPont Manual High in Kentucky – taking third in 20:31.31.

Jessica Secor, less than 24 hours after running a Kentucky state record 4:42.17 in the mile at the Brooks PR Invitational in Washington, anchored the Louisville Rams’ lineup that also included Maggie May, Emerson Wyatt and Flora Biro.

Purple Track Club and the Carolina Cavaliers are expected to return to the track Friday night in a highly anticipated 4x800-meter relay that is also scheduled to include Union Catholic from New Jersey.

Monroe-Woodbury Track Club from New York had added motivation to capture a 4xMile championship when sophomore standout Gavin Catherwood was unable to compete Thursday, sidelined with a walking boot on his left foot.

But fellow sophomore Shane Golio stepped in and joined John Urciuoli, Collin Gilstrap and Collin Catherwood to prevail against Black Bear Track Club and anchor Aidan Cox, representing Coe-Brown Northwood Academy of New Hampshire, by a 17:29.49 to 17:30.12 margin.

Brian DiCola of Hatboro-Horsham High in Pennsylvania, a Penn State signee, made a decisive move a mile into the boys 5,000 championship race and never relinquished control, achieving a personal-best 14:26.72 to secure the title.

Christopher Sullivan of Baker Street Track Club, representing Catholic Memorial High in Massachusetts, relied on a 59.20-second final lap to place second in 14:29.94.

Hannah Rae Shaffer, a sophomore at Cardinal Gibbons High in North Carolina, capped the distance showcase by winning the girls 5,000 crown in 16:37.73.

Rose Coats of Brooklyn Prospect in New York took the lead at the 3,000-meter mark and Shaffer patiently waited for her opportunity, before producing a 75-second last lap to pull away from Coats (16:42.41).

Natalie McLean of Pine-Richland High in Pennsylvania, who led for the second mile of the race before Coats grabbed the advantage, took third in 16:54.75.