GREENVILLE, S.C. – Led by 2022 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Lauren Beatty, and four returning all-conference honorees, Converse was picked to capture the institution's first-ever women's cross country title in the 2023 Conference Carolinas Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll.
The conference office officially unveiled the preseason poll on Aug. 25. The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Valkyries, 2022 conference championship runners-up by one point, claimed the top spot in the poll with 160 points and six-of-14 first-place votes. Defending champion King was picked second with 151 points and five first-place nods while UNC Pembroke was a close third with 150 points and two first-place votes. Francis Marion, who was picked 12th, garnered the final first-place nod.
Lees-McRae was picked fourth with 119 points followed by Belmont Abbey (117), North Greenville (113), Southern Wesleyan (93), Mount Olive (71), Barton (66), conference newcomer Young Harris (61), Erskine (61), Francis Marion (46), Emmanuel (45) and Chowan (21).
Teams begin competition on Friday, Sept. 1 and will have 50 days before the 2023 Conference Carolinas Championship on Saturday, Oct. 21 at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, North Carolina
"I am very excited for this upcoming season. The team has put in a great summer of training and is looking to have a big year. The women are ranked first, deservingly so and they have big goals to match their pre-season ranking. I can not wait to see how things play out." said head Coach Mark Rennix.
Converse's players-to-watch trio is headlined by Sophomore Lauren Beatty who was 2022 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year; First Team All-Conference Carolinas (2022); 2x Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Month (September-October 2022); and Conference Carolinas Runner of the Week (10/3/22).
The second player to watch was Sophomore Ruth Spijker who was 2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas and Ranked 5th all-time in the 5k race and 4th all-time in the 6k race for Converse.
The final player to watch is Junior Ashley Sosa who was 2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas and Ranked 7th all-time in the 5k race and 6th all-time in the 6k race for Converse.
The Conference team kicks off their season with the eye-opener against the University of South Carolina- Upstate on September 1st.
