Valkyries Cross Country Finishes 8th at Conference Carolinas Championship
CHARLOTTE, NC- The Valkyries cross country team finshed 8th out of 12 participating teams at the 2011 Conference Carolinas Championship Meet. Converse was led by the freshman duo of Casilda Ruiz (Pensacola, FL) and Sierra Vargas (Williamston, SC) who ran the 6th and 7th fastest 5k times in school history respectively. Ruiz paced the Valkyries with a time of 20:11 to place 31st, while Vargas placed 34th with a time of 20:14. Sophomore Abby Sorrenson had a breakout race crossing the line in 42nd place with a time of 20:38, while senior Kathleen Coleman (20:45/45th) and freshman Grace Popek (20:48/48th) finshed out the top five scoring positions for the purple and gold. Freshman Jacqueline Alexander (21:04), freshman Melanie Martin (21:49), and junior Shannon Bishop (21:56) rounded out the performances for Converse.
Converse bested North Greenville who did not field five runners and therefore did not post a team score, as well as Coker who scored 295 points for 11th place, Limestone (10th/223), and Erskine (9th/204). The Valkyries scored 195 points to lose the 7th spot to Barton by seven points. Queens won the meet with 19 points, followed by Mount Olive (2nd/69), King (3rd/80), Lees-McRae (4th/141), Belmont-Abbey (5th/143), and Pfeiffer finished 6th with a team score of 168.
The Valkyires will compete next at the Southeast Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5 back at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, NC.
