NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their All-Academic Athletes and All-Academic Teams on Monday afternoon and a trio of Valkyries, junior Kamille Cunningham, freshman Alayah Thomas and sophomore Kennedy Wright, earned the individual honor while the women's team earned the collective honor.

Converse is one of 137 teams to earn the honor this year. The Valkyries posted a 3.31 GPA.

Cunningham, a special education and early childhood education double major from Columbia, dominated the regional standings in multiple events. She finished ranked seventh regionally and 58th nationally in the 60-meter hurdles, fourth regionally in the indoor high jump, 23rd in the indoor long jump and fourth regionally and 65th nationally in the pentathlon. She found equal success during outdoor season, ranking 24th in the 200 meters, eighth in the 100-meter hurdles, third regionally and 19th nationally in the high jump, 36th in the long jump, 30th in the javelin throw and second regionally and 22nd nationally in the heptathlon. Cunningham was the Conference Carolinas outdoor high jump runner-up and competed in the event at the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships. She was also named a CSC Academic All-District honoree.

Thomas, an international business major from Charleston, ranked 11th regionally in the 100-meter dash and 17th regionally in the 200-meter dash. She, along with Cunningham and Wright, was a member of the Valkyries' 4x100 relay team that ranked third in the region and finished runner-up at the Conference Carolinas Championships.

Wright, a chemistry major from Spartanburg, ranked inside the top 50 in two events in both indoor and outdoor seasons. During indoor season, she ranked 12th in the 60-meter hurdles and 18th in the high jump. During outdoor season, she ranked 11th in the 100-meter hurdles and 13th in the 400-meter hurdles. She was also named a CSC Academic All-District honoree.

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