Kristen Walsh's Georgetown Experience

As a very proud and recent graduate from Georgetown University and a member of the women’s cross-country and track and field teams, it hurts me to see people throwing false allegations upon our program.  Being a part of the Georgetown track team has always been something that I take great pride in, and it is unsettling to me to see it being selfishly tampered with by false accusations.

As a member of the team for FOUR years (2011-2015) I have had a lot of time and experience to get a good handle on my coaching staff’s philosophy and I have a good understanding of what they expect from their athletes no matter their skin color. Georgetown focuses on what an athlete brings to the team – in terms of athletic performance as well as culture and attitude.  If an athlete does not foster a positive attitude or starts negatively affecting team members, then rightfully so, further action is taken.  On the women’s side, this philosophy is put in place in order to protect the culture that I fell in love with during my four years, the culture that we worked to create, and the culture that I am immensely grateful for. This culture is in fact one of the main aspects of the program that drew me to Georgetown. Although everyone has a different experience and viewpoint, what is being said about my coaches and team is not the atmosphere I have come to know and fall in love with over the past four years and it is definitely not the people who I consider family.

When I chose to attend and run for Georgetown University, I knew that it was going to be a challenge, but it was a challenge that I was ready for and was willing to work hard for.  I also did my research and was well aware that Georgetown had a history of excellence in the middle distance and distance events.  As a middle distance runner I felt that this was a good fit and after visiting the school, I was sold.  The coaching staff and atmosphere of the Georgetown track and field program were aspects that I could tell everyone valued and this was something that I wanted to be a part of.

My experience on the Georgetown track team was incredible, but it wasn’t incredible because everything was smooth sailing- this experience came with many ups and downs as any D1 athlete can attest to.  It was incredible because of the journey and the progressions I made in which much credibility I give to my coach, Mike Smith.

Shortly after I began competing for Georgetown I soon realized that my first two years were not going to be filled with fast times and glory.  I struggled through many frustrations as a result of not being able to match my high school PRs.  A lot of athletes go through this struggle in college because there is much to adjust to through the transition from high school to college competition.  However, despite the hardships at Georgetown I always felt welcome.  

This is where Coach Mike comes in. He was with me every step of the way.  There were a lot of very tough conversations, yes, as expected while being a part of a Division 1 program and not performing to the potential both him and I knew was there. I was well aware that there are no guarantees.  These conversations happened so that I would be challenged to be honest with myself as a runner.  Through honesty and better self-awareness, I would grow as an athlete and in turn perform better.  These conversations also created a decision: Would I push myself or would I give up and put the blame on anything else?  I could have easily let my frustrations get the best of me and take the easy way out.  Instead, I took responsibility and decided I wasn’t going to stop giving full effort until I achieved my goals.  Coach Mike taught me that the farther out of my comfort zone I went (doing XC workouts and longer runs), the more I would grow.  It is said that a person experiences the most growth when they leave their comfort zone.  If I had the right attitude, I knew Coach Mike would never give up on me, and he never did. He treated me as a person first and runner second and I know that he does, and will do the same, for anyone who puts in the effort while maintaining a positive attitude.  What I also know is that skin color does not matter.  If you are dedicated, believe, and trust in the process, while fully supporting your teammates and their goals, then you are a vital part to the team. By senior year I was finally accomplishing goals.  These goals were met because of Coach Mike. His encouragement and presence every step of the way was unwavering. Sometimes there is delayed gratification, but that is what makes an athlete-coach relationship so special- you have to trust the process fully.  I wish more than anything that I could get just one more year at Georgetown running under incredibly knowledgeable coaches alongside extremely talented teammates. 

Coach Mike is one of the most caring people I have ever met.  He was one of the best coaches I have ever had. We've had many conversations where he’s seen me at my worst and my best, but he always had my best interest in mind.  He has taught all of us life lessons and has been so influential.  His door is always open, willing to take time out of his day to make sure his athletes are happy.  What he and others on the coaching staff are being accused of is certainly not what I witnessed during my four years.  It is disheartening to see people who I considered my teammates try and destroy something that so many of us take pride in by wrongly accusing people.  I am not ignorant, I understand racism exists in this country and I know that it needs to be taken very seriously in order to instill justice.  But I will stand firmly in my belief that it is most certainly not fostered within the track and field program at Georgetown University, and certainly is not present among the coaching staff.  I would not love a place, experience, and staff as much as I do if these allegations were the truth.