GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Converse University cross country teams got off to an impressive start to their 2026 season at the Bruins Night Classic, hosted by Bob Jones University. Competitors ran around the athletic fields on Bob Jones University's campus. The women raced a 4K, and the men followed with a 6K race.

The Converse men won the 6K while the Converse women finished fourth in the 4K.

Women's Notes:

• Sophomore Ines Pierrefitte finished first for the Valkyries with a time of 16:12.5 in 15th place.
• Freshman Zarya Mines finished second amongst the Valkyries in her first collegiate race with a time of 16:22.5 in 18th place.
• Junior Peyton MacMillan finished next for the Valkyries with a time of 16:38.5 in 24th place.
• Senior Mackenzie Crandell finished four places later with a time of 16:49.0.
• Freshman Alyssa Skory rounded out the Valkyries' scorers with a time of 17:50.6 in 40th place.
• Senior Paisley Stepp and freshman Myla Mason finished back-to-back in 44th and 45th place with times of 17:26.5 and 17:26.7, respectively.
• Junior Hailey Jones rounded out the Valkyries' performance at the meet with a time of 17:31.7 in 49th place.

Men's Notes:  

• Junior Ander Vera Moleres finished the race third overall with a time of 19:43.4.
• Freshman Lucas Boulakia finished strong in his first collegiate race with a sixth-place finish and a time of 20:12.1.
• Sophomore James Hook finished just two places later with a time of 20:20.0.
• Junior Alex Porter finished in 14th place with a time of 20:29.0.
• Sophomore Benjamin Notarangelo and junior Marti Ruiz Barreda finished consecutively in 23rd and 24th place with times of 20:53.6 and 20:55.0, respectively. Notarangelo was the last Valkyrie to score.
• Junior Reece Evans finished three places behind Ruiz Barreda with a time of 20:58.2.
• Freshman Jayden Finney finished with a time of 21:37.1 in 41st place.
• Fellow freshman Cameron Bybee finished nine places later with a time of 21:52.8.
• A pair of freshmen rounded out the team's performance at the event as Ethan Lyon and Isaac Bullock finished in 74th and 95th place with times of 22:59.5 and 25:12.5, respectively.

Next Up:
The Valkyries are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 19, as they host the Converse Kick-Off at Milliken Research Park at 9 A.M.
  
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