Virginia Reves Hall ’91, Allison Hall ’24 and Conrad Hall ’89 braved the elements at the NCISAA country county meet in Hendersonville. Photo by Jerry Reves
“I knew she could have a great race, but I had no idea she would be able to win,” he said. “As the race went on and she kept hanging in there, it gradually became evident that she was having a special day and might have an amazing race. It wasn’t until she actually crossed the finish line that we started taking in what she had just done.” Dennis Cullen, who coached DA’s cross-country and track teams for 39 years and continues to help with the program, described the 2018 meet’s course conditions — d riving rain overhead and inches of mud underfoot — as “the worst I’ve ever seen in a state meet.” But for Allison — whom her mother caught running and high-fiving with her father in gusting winds and rain as the remnants of Hurricane Michael approached in October — they offered an opportunity to exercise her grit. “Those conditions, I like them,” Allison said, “because even though they’re hard for me, they’re hard for everyone, so you really have to persevere.” Now, 30 years since that fateful 1988 cross-country season, her parents can’t help but reflect on all that has happened since.
“This is something that I would have never anticipated, that Conrad and I would both end up being teachers and coaches — and me at DA and Allison running for DA,” Virginia said. “If you told me that when I was 15 and starting to date Conrad, I’d have been pretty surprised.” For Conrad, the impact of the DA cross-country program on his life is difficult to quantify. “It’s a big part of my career and calling now as I coach CA runners and help them grow as athletes and people. My DA running career is a long time ago now, and my focus is on my coaching at present, but those days on the DA team with Coach Cullen were extremely formative and positive for me,” he recalled. “For Virginia and me, who we are as people, our careers and callings, and our 20year marriage and family is all tied to those years on DA cross-country with Coach Cullen and our DA cross country teammates. And now Allison is in the DA program and having a great experience. Amazing, really!”
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