Converse University

Shona Blades is in her second year with the Valkyries for the 2022-23season. Blades being no stranger to Conference Carolinas after being a collegiate runner in the conference for three and a half years. 

Blades joins the Valkyries after Coaching at North Ayrshire Athletics club in Scotland for many years. In 2016 she was awarded her Coaching License and Scottish Athletics Assistant Coach qualification as she coached track and cross country at home in the UK. Shona also worked for Nike Glasgow as a Nike Run Club Coach and has enjoyed being a volunteer for numerous Commonwealth games, European championships and Diamond league events. 

Prior to becoming a member of the Valkyries staff, Shona ran collegiately for Mount Olive University and also Wingate University. Shona helped Mount Olive to 11 Conference Carolina's championships titles in Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track. Shona further received all conference awards in both Conference Carolinas and the SAAC. In 2018 Shona was the Conference Carolinas individual Cross Country Champion and in 2019 was named MVP for outdoor track after individually winning the 10k, 3000SC and 5k. Blades was awarded Southeast All-Region for both Cross Country and Track on more than one occasion and helped Mount Olive qualify for 2 NCAA National championships for Cross Country in 2017 and Indoor Track in 2019. Shona further helped Wingate University qualify for the Cross Country NCAA National Championships in California in 2019.

Shona graduated from Mount Olive University in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Leisure studies- Health and Physical education, with a minor in Biology.  Shona is currently studying at Converse to get her masters degree in Leadership.