Converse Tops Conference Carolinas Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll

Converse Tops Conference Carolinas Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll

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GREENVILLE, S.C. – Led by 2022 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Lauren Beatty, and four returning all-conference honorees, Converse was picked to capture the institution's first-ever women’s cross country title in the 2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The conference office officially unveiled the preseason poll on Aug. 25. The preseason poll was voted on by the league’s head coaches.

The Valkyries, 2022 conference championship runners-up by one point, claimed the top spot in the poll with 160 points and six-of-14 first-place votes. Defending champion King was picked second with 151 points and five first-place nods while UNC Pembroke was a close third with 150 points and two first-place votes. Francis Marion, who was picked 12th, garnered the final first-place nod.

Lees-McRae was picked fourth with 119 points followed by Belmont Abbey (117), North Greenville (113), Southern Wesleyan (93), Mount Olive (71), Barton (66), conference newcomer Young Harris (61), Erskine (61), Francis Marion (46), Emmanuel (45) and Chowan (21).

Teams begin competition on Friday, Sept. 1 and will have 50 days before the 2023 Conference Carolinas Championship on Saturday, Oct. 21 at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
2023 Conference Carolinas
Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
 
School Total (First Place)
Converse 160 (6)
King 151 (5)
UNC Pembroke 150 (2)
Lees-McRae 119
Belmont Abbey 117
North Greenville 113
Southern Wesleyan 93
Mount Olive 71
Barton 66
Young Harris 61
Erskine 61
Francis Marion 46 (1)
Emmanuel 45
Chowan 21

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Cross Country
Runners to Watch
 
Barton
  • Katie Hansen, Sr., Elizabeth City, North Carolina 
  • Angela James-Creech, Jr., Middlesex, North Carolina 
  • Ansley Whilden, Fr., Raleigh, North Carolina
Belmont Abbey
  • Makenna Pallozzi, Sr., Belmont, North Carolina (2022 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas; Fall 2021 First Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Sydney Keller, Jr., Baker City, Oregon
  • Meghan Little, Sr., Charlotte, North Carolina (Spring 2021 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas)
Converse
  • Lauren Beatty, So., Winchester, Virginia (2022 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Ruth Spijker, So., Sint Pancras, Netherlands (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas)  
  • Ashley Sosa, Jr., Gainesville, Georgia (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
Emmanuel
  • Taylor Farmer, Sr., Gainesville, Georgia (Spring 2021 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Ashley Ledgerwood, Sr., Jefferson, Georgia (Spring 2021 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
Erskine
  • Vivian Bryant, So., Summerton, South Carolina
  • Raleigh Faulkner, So., Spartanburg, South Carolina
  • Katherine Thompson, Sr., Woodruff, South Carolina
Francis Marion
  • Jordyn Perry, Fr., Florence, South Carolina
  • Caroline Thompkins, Jr., Conway, South Carolina
  • MacKinley Perry, So., Florence, South Carolina
King
  • Mandy Lowery, So., Bristol, Tennessee (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Morgan Whitley, Jr., Danville, Virginia (2022 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas; Fall 2021 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Emily Ward, So., Jonesborough, Tennessee (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
Lees-McRae
  • Deanna Betzer, Sr., New Columbia, Pennsylvania (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Region, Conference Carolinas Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year; Fall 2021 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas; Spring 2021 Third Team Conference Carolinas; 2019 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Campbell Dille, So., Cary, North Carolina (2022 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Maddie Quinn, So., Winterville, North Carolina 
Mount Olive
  • Celine Fleurilus, Sr., Port Charlotte, Florida
  • Ciara Sulton, So., Fayetteville, Georgia (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Natalie Baldwin, So., Greenville, North Carolina
North Greenville
  • Avery Shope, So., Fort Mill, South Carolina (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Riley Nicholson, So., Anderson, South Carolina
Southern Wesleyan
  • Abbey Frock, Sr., Liberty, South Carolina (2022 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Merritt Smith, So., St. Petersburg, Florida
  • Evelyn Gordon, Fr., Carmel, Indiana
UNC Pembroke
  • Jackline Kosgei, Jr., Eldoret, Kenya (2022 Conference Carolinas Individual Champion, Runner of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas, USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Region, NCAA National Qualifier; Fall 2021 Conference Carolinas Individual Champion, Runner of the Year, Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Michela Gritti, Fr., Primaluna, Italy
Young Harris
  • Emily Baars, Fr., Lilburn, Ga.
  • Carolina Bass, Fr., Acworth, Ga.
  • Brianna Dalton, Fr., Monticello, Ga.