CHARLOTTE, N.C. and COLUMBIA, S.C.  – The Converse University track & field teams split up this past weekend to take on two different meets: the 49er Classic hosted by UNC Charlotte and the Weems Baskin Invitational hosted by the University of South Carolina. Converse had strong showings at both, not just outperforming their Division-II peers, but besting Division I and unattached competitors as well.

Men's Notes:
49er Classic hosted by UNC Charlotte

• Reigning Conference Carolinas Track Athlete of the Week Alain Flores improved on his school record in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:53.87, a new school record and PR. He ranks first in Conference Carolinas in the event by nearly six seconds. Flores ranks eighth in the southeast region.
• Junior Jaxon Wright ran a time of 32:49.42 in the 10,000 meters, the fourth-fastest time in Conference Carolinas. It is a personal record for the Mauldin native and hits an NCAA provisional mark.

Weems Baskin Invitational hosted by the University of South Carolina

• Sophomore Dorian Bomar, junior Devron Davis, freshman Camden Ranieri and senior Gavin McFadden opened the meet with a victory in the 4x100 meter relay. They recorded a time of 40.52, ranking them first in Conference Carolinas and second in the southeast region. They hit an NCAA provisional mark.
• In the 100 meter dash, Bomar and McFadden qualified for the finals with times of 10.48 and 10.52 respectively, placing them in seventh and eighth place at the meet. They currently rank second and third in Conference Carolinas and third and fifth in the southeast region.
• McFadden led the Valkyries with a time of 21.04 in the 200 meters, the fastest time at the meet for any runner under the Division I, high-major level. He ranks first in both the southeast region and Conference Carolinas and hit a provisional mark. Davis ran a time of 21.30 and Bomar ran a 21.49. McFadden ranks fourth nationally in the event.
• Sophomore Nick Tibolla placed second in the 110 meter hurdles. In the finals, he ran a school-record 14.17. He ranks first in the southeast and Conference Carolinas and sixth nationally.
• Freshman Dre'Kevan Thomas and senior Donald Medley also reached the 100 meter hurdles finals. They recorded times of 14.59 and 15.65 respectively. Both Valkyries hit collegiate PRs. Thomas ranks second in Conference Carolinas.
• Freshman Kyan Sapko finished third in the 400 meter hurdles and second among Division II athletes. He ranks second in the southeast region and first in Conference Carolinas.
• Sophomore Omarion Belton finished sixth in the long jump with a mark of 6.97 meters. Ranieri posted a mark of 6.73 meters. Belton ranks fourth in the southeast region and second in Conference Carolinas. Both Valkyries posted outdoor PRs.
• The Valkyries' 4x400 meter relay team ran a 3:21.91. This ranks them third in Conference Carolinas.

 
Women's Notes:
49er Classic hosted by UNC Charlotte

• Sophomore Kamille Cunningham and junior D'asia Thomas both competed in the heptathlon. Cunningham accumulated 3900 points, a new Converse program record. Thomas scored 3087.
• Senior Ashley Sosa and senior Lauren Beatty both set PRs in the 10,000 meters, with Sosa breaking the school record with a 37:21.33. She currently ranks third in the southeast region and first in Conference Carolinas. Beatty is ranked second in Conference Carolinas and fourth in the region.

Weems Baskin Invitational hosted by the University of South Carolina

• Freshman Anna Katherine Evatt set a new personal and school record in the discus with a mark of 39.75 meters. She also ranks first in Conference Carolinas.
• Fellow freshman thrower Alla Hutchins placed fifth in the shot put and javelin. She ranks second and third respectively in the events in Conference Carolinas.
• Senior Eseose Okoduwa finished the preliminary rounds of the 100 meter dash in second with a time of 11.88 behind a runner from the host Gamecocks. She finished fifth in the finals with a time of 11.92. She ranks first in Conference Carolinas in the event.
• Junior Ruth Spijker finished eighth in the 800 meters in her second meet back from injury. She ranks second in Conference Carolinas.
• Senior Mackenzie Whiteside finished with a PR of 11.33 meters in the triple jump.

 
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