SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University cross country teams both finished second overall at the Conference Carolinas Championships on Saturday morning at Milliken Research Park.
Converse University head cross country coach
Mark Rennix was named Conference Carolinas Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year following the Valkyries historic finish. Last season, Rennix was named the Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year after the Valkyries took home the team title.
On the women's side, the Valkyries nearly repeated as Conference Carolinas Champions but finished just two points behind North Greenville with 45 points.
Ruth Spijker and
Ashley Sosa were both First Team All-Conference selections this season for the Valkyries. For Spijker this is her third consecutive season being named to the First Team, and for Sosa this is the second time in her career that she has earned the honor.
Angel Kravitz in her first season as a Valkyrie earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. Joining Kravitz on the second team was
Lauren Beatty and
Paisley Stepp. For all three Valkyrie runners it was the first time in their careers being named to the All-Conference Second Team.
On the men's side, the Valkyries posted a Runner-Up finish a new program best at the Conference Carolinas Championships. The men's team finished with 68 total points and finished in-between UNC Pembroke and Lees-McRae.
Alain Flores and
Luis Rios Brena both earned First Team All-Conference honors following their performance on the course today. For both athletes, this was their first time being selected to the All-Conference First Team. Freshman
Ander Vera Moleres was named a Second Team All-Conference performer, while
DreQuan Guyton was selected to the Third Team.
Women's Notes:
- Spijker finished fourth overall for the second straight season and was just two seconds off her personal best time in the 6K event with a mark of 22:36.7.
- Sosa finished sixth overall on Saturday morning and placed inside the Top-10 at the Cross Country Championships for the second straight season. The senior posted a time of 22:52.7 at the Championship meet.
- Angel Kravitz in her first Conference Carolinas Championship meet finished 8th overall with a time of 22:59.3. Finishing just outside the Top-10 for Converse was Lauren Beatty in 13th place and Paisley Stepp in 14th place.
- Freshman Sara Aguiar Torre finished 30th overall with a time of 24:48.9, fellow freshman Peyton MacMillan finished close behind in 43rd place. Mackenzie Crandell came across the line in 47th place, rounding out the Valkyries performance on Saturday morning.
Men's Notes:
- Former Conference Carolinas Runner of the Week Alain Flores posted his first career Top-3 finish at the Championship meet on Saturday morning. The sophomore posted a time of 25:15.
- Luis Rios Brena and Ander Vera Moleres finished close behind in seventh and eighth place respectively. Meanwhile, DreQuan Guyton rounded out the Valkyries Top-25 performance with a 21st place finish in the event.
- Freshman Alex Porter finished 31st overall in the event, while Zackery Carver and Jaxon Wright crossed the finish line moments later in 37th and 38th place respectively.
- Marti Ruiz Barreda finished 57th overall for Converse, followed by Nathan Lucy in 74th place.
Next Up:
- The Valkyrie Cross Country teams will be back in action on Saturday, November 9th at Milliken Research Park. Converse will be hosting the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, the first race is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m.
Follow Converse
https://www.facebook.com/ConverseValkyries
Twitter:
@Valkyries_MXCTF &
@valkyries_wxctf
Instagram:
@Valkyriesxctrack
Youtube.com/Converse Athletics
