AU women finish second in PBC Championships
By Maleigha Johnson | Sports Writer
MILLEDGEVILLE—Augusta University women's cross-country team recorded a historic performance Saturday morning, registering one of its strongest performances in history at the 2025 Peach Belt Conference Championships hosted by Georgia College in Milledgeville.
The Jaguars finished second overall, their best finish in years, with senior Madison Thomas leading the charge and registering a career-best third place individually.
Thomas posted a time of 18 minutes, 56.5 seconds on the rolling 5K course to capture all-conference honors a well-deserved recognition for Augusta's most consistent woman runner. "The course really tested my strength as well as my mental toughness, especially on the second loop," she said.
The toughest section was on the second lap going up the ginormous hill," Thomas laughed. "It's the section where you are going to barf and your legs turn to Jell-O. Then you have a long downhill afterward, so you just sort of let gravity take over and go."
For Thomas, the result was about more than merely a medal.
“It’s been a while since any girls have gotten top three, so I’m just really proud of the performance and of our team,” she said. “It was the first time I’d gotten a PR in cross country since my sophomore year of high school, and to do it in my last season means a lot.”
Trailing behind her was junior Maria Biondolillo in 12th (19:27.0), followed by Danielle Thayer in 17th (19:30.2) and freshman Josabeth Graciano in 18th (19:33.0). Freshman Amelia Ogden finished Augusta's scoring five in 23rd (19:42.7) as the Jaguars logged one of the lowest team scores in school history.
Biondolillo admitted that the course's toughest section was a cruel hill on the second loop made her draw upon every ounce of mental strength.
“The most challenging part was definitely that second loop,” she said. “We had this monster hill about a quarter of a mile long that was the hardest part mentally because you’re close to the end but still in the thick of it.”
Still, the junior said the result showed how much the program has grown.
“This is the strongest we’ve ever been as a girl's team in program history,” Biondolillo said. “We have taken the most first-year students to conference ever, and seeing such a young team with this much talent has been exciting. We are leaps and bounds ahead of where we have never been before.”
Head Coach Jacob Burgamy credited the team's success this fall. He also credited Assistant Coach Avery Jaynes, a former runner at Augusta, with being able to lead and relate to the athletes on and off the course.
The staff has created an atmosphere of confidence, smart racing, and steady improvement and it is paying dividends.
With that momentum, the Jaguars now shift their focus to the NCAA Southeast Regional on Nov. 8, where the women will look to keep their historic season alive and punch a ticket to nationals.
“Each new race this season has been a surprise to myself,” Biondolillo said. “It’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come and knowing we’re capable of even more.”
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)
