AU women finish second in PBC Championships
Staff report
MILLEDGEVILLE—The Augusta University women’s cross-country team, led by Madison Thomas’ third-place finish, took second place as a team in the Peach Belt Championships on Saturday morning, Oct. 25.
Thomas, the senior from Evans High School, ran the 6-kilometer race in 18 minutes, 56.5 seconds to pace the Jaguars, who finished 41 points behind champion Flagler.
For her efforts this season, Thomas was named PBC runner of the year. She was runner of the week three times in the fall campaign.
“I am really proud of the performance,” Thomas said. “It’s such a challenging course. It’s been awhile since an AU woman has gotten in the top three, so I am proud of the performance and our team.”
Chloe Smith led the Saints and the field, finishing in a time of 18:42.9. She just edged out teammate Abigail Misch, who ran a 18:43.6.
Maria Biondollilo, a junior, was next for AU with a time of 19:27.0, good for 12th place.
“This is the strongest we’ve ever been as a women’s team,” Biondollilo said. “We also took the most freshmen to the conference meet ever, so competing with such a young team has been very exciting for me—and we got to contend for the team title in a way we haven’t before.”
Junior Danielle Thayer was third for AU and 17th overall. Her time was 19:30.2. Right behind her was teammate Josabeth Graciano in 18th. Graciano, a freshman from Gainesville, ran a 19:33.0. Amelia Ogden, a freshman from Alpharetta, was fifth for the Jaguars in 19:42.7.
North Georgia finished third with 71 points.
Augusta advances to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, to be held at Wingate, N.C., on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Note: Lydia Williams and Anna Biondollilo contributed to this report.
AU’s Maria Biondollilo (2) finished 12th overall and was second for the Jaguars in the Peach Belt Conference cross-country championship meet at Georgia College and State University. At the top of the page, Madison Thomas was first for the Jags and third overall. (photos by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
