GREENWOOD, Ind. – After a season in which the Converse University track & field teams sent their first-ever representatives to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships, seven Valkyries were honored as CSC Academic All-District selections for their athletic and academic accomplishments.

From the men's track & field team, sophomore Alain Flores and senior Donald Medley earned the honor. The women's team had five honorees: juniors Bella Martin, Ruth Spijker and Lauren Beatty, graduate student Bayley Robinson and senior Janyia Pinckney.

To receive the honor, a student-athlete must rank in the top 50 for a single, non-relay event in the region at the end of the season. To qualify as a cross country student-athlete, an individual must place inside the top 50 at the regional meet. Academically, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore and hold a 3.50 cumulative GPA.

Flores, a mathematics major from Sopelana, Basque Country, Spain, hit the qualifying mark in five track events and cross country. In the fall, he placed 28th at the regional cross country meet. He ranked inside the top 25 in all three indoor events for which he qualified: 5,000 meters (20th), 3,000 meters (21st) and the mile (25th). During outdoor season, Flores qualified in two events: 1,500 meters (11th) and 5,000 meters (42nd).

Medley, a studio art major from Rock Hill, hit the qualifying mark in one event in both indoor and outdoor seasons. Indoor season ended with the Valkyries' senior ranked 21st in the 60-meter hurdles and by outdoor season's end, Medley ranked 22nd in the 110-meter hurdles.

Martin, a health and wellness and child and family studies double major from Irmo, qualified in four events, evenly split between indoor and outdoor season. Her best regional ranking of the year came in the indoor weight throw, in which she ranked second in the southeast region. She also qualified in the indoor shot put with a fourth-place regional ranking. During outdoor season, she ranked third in the hammer throw and 15th in the discus.

Spijker, a chemistry major from Sint Pancras, The Netherlands, battled through injuries to rank 27th in the outdoor 1,500 meters and 38th in the 800 meters. Spijker was also named the 2025 Conference Carolinas Outdoor Championships Elite 23 award winner, given to the student-athlete at the championship site with the highest GPA.

Beatty, a philosophy and biology double major from Winchester, Virginia, started her season with a 34th-place finish at the 2024 regional cross country meet. During indoor season, she ranked 23rd in both the mile and 5,000 meters. She finished outdoor season ranked tenth in the 10,000 meters and 43rd in the 1,500 meters.

Robinson, a master's in management, professional leadership major from Simpsonville, finished indoor season ranked 31st in the 800 meters.

Pinckney, a healthcare administration major from Blythewood, finished both indoor and outdoor season ranked inside the top 20 in both the triple and high jumps. Indoor season saw her finish with her best regional ranking of the year, eighth in the high jump. She also finished indoor season ranked 17th in the triple jump. At the end of outdoor season, she finished ranked 13th in the triple jump and 16th in the high jump.

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