The top four was as difficult to predict as they come. I truly think each of the top four have a serious chance to walk away NCHSAA 4A state champion. However, coming in at No. 3 on the pre-season countdown is Cuthbertson junior Stella Kermes.
Kermes is as talented of a runner as they come. She is trying to help take Cuthbertson back to the top of the state, and then rightfully to the top of the country.
On the track this spring she showed her ability in the 800m all the way up to the 3,200m. She ran 10:39.82 at adidas Raleigh Relays in the 3,200m before going on to finish 5th at the state meet in the event. Her time in the event was NC No. 4 and sophomore class NC No. 9 all-time.
She ran her personal best of 4:50.96 in the 1,600m at the NCHSAA 4A state meet and placed 3rd. Her time is good for sophomore class NC No. 2 all-time
In the 800m, she ran 2:14.17. Her time is good for NC No. 3 amongst sophomores last spring, with the two ahead of her being her teammates, Charlotte Bell and Justine Preisano. It is also good for sophomore class NC No. 11 all-time.
Kermes won the NCHSAA 4A Indoor 1,000m State Championship this past fall running 2:54.76. That time is sophomore class NC No. 2 all-time, and was her first individual state championship of her career.
She also ran 4:56.42 for the full mile indoors, which ranks her class NC No. 4 all-time. Kermes was also apart of Cuthbertson's state record 4x800m and 4xMile teams this past winter.
Last fall, she was 9th at the NCHSAA 4A Cross Country state meet and finished as Cuthbertson's No. 2 runner. She was runner-up to teammate Alyssa Preisano at the NCHSAA 4A Midwest Regional last fall, as well. She ran her personal best at the Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championship, 17:49.25. Her XC time is NC No. 6 for returners.
Kermes took a leap from her freshman to sophomore seasons that really put her on another level. I'm expecting another similar leap out of Kermes going into her junior season, as she looks to establish herself as one of the top distance recruits in her class.
She has proven she has the ability to run with the best of the best that there is in North Carolina. Now, she wants another state title to back it up.
