News Summary
Augusta senior Madison Thomas has been honored as the Peach Belt Conference Runner of the Week after an impressive 47th place finish at the Queen City Invitational. She recorded the fastest 5K time in the Peach Belt Conference for the season, completing the race in 18:30.22. The Augusta women’s cross country team also performed well, finishing ninth overall among a competitive field. With the upcoming Bobcat Invitational, the team, which is ranked second in the Peach Belt Conference, aims to continue building on their performance this season.
Augusta – Augusta senior Madison Thomas has garnered recognition as the Peach Belt Conference Runner of the Week following an impressive performance at the Queen City Invitational. Thomas’s standout performance included a 47th place finish in a competitive field primarily made up of Division I athletes, where she completed the 5K race with a time of 18:30.22. As a result of this achievement, Thomas has the fastest 5K time recorded in the Peach Belt Conference for the current season.
The Augusta women’s cross country team also showcased a solid performance at the Queen City Invitational, securing a ninth place finish overall with a team score of 258 points. This result positions them as the second-highest Division II program among the participants in the race. The Jaguars collectively clocked a total time of 1:37:20, averaging 19:28 per runner. Impressively, there was a slim 29-second gap that separated the top five runners from Augusta, highlighting a strong team effort.
Leading the Jaguars was freshman Gabriella Burton, who finished in 64th place with a time of 19:13.5. Following closely was senior Grace Gyetko, who placed 67th with a time of 19:20.6. Other notable finishes for Augusta included freshman Amelia Ogden, who took 69th with a time of 19:23.3, senior Josabeth Graciano in 88th place at 19:41.0, and junior Elkin Regina in 89th with a time of 19:42.5. Additional participants included Gabby Jourdain, finishing 92nd, Caleigh Munro at 104th, along with several others, including Katlin Malone, who finished in 198th place.
Looking ahead, the Jaguars are preparing to compete at the Bobcat Invitational scheduled for Friday, September 26. The anticipation for this event is high as the team aims to build upon their recent performances. This season, Augusta University was ranked to finish second in the Peach Belt Conference preseason coaches’ poll, accumulating 89 points and securing one first-place vote. Flagler College led the rankings with 98 points and nine first-place votes, while North Georgia followed in third with 84 points and one first-place vote.
In the previous season, Augusta finished as the runner-up in the 2024 Peach Belt Conference Championship, with three runners finishing in the top 10 during that event. They also achieved a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional, confirming their competitive prowess within the realm of collegiate cross country.
Head coach Jacob Burgamy leads a veteran roster for the current season, returning seasoned athletes such as Maria Biondollilo and Sophia Cook, both of whom received All-Conference selections in the Peach Belt. This blend of experienced talent and promising newcomers like Thomas and Burton has set high expectations for Augusta’s cross country team this season.
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Additional Resources
- Madison Thomas Named PBC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
- Wikipedia: Cross Country Running
- Augusta Women Take Ninth at Queen City Invitational
- Google Search: Peach Belt Conference cross country
- Augusta Voted Second in PBC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
- Google Scholar: Women’s Cross Country
- The Augusta Press Adds AU Sports Podcast
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cross Country Running
- Four Recognized on PBC Women’s Cross Country Team of Academic Distinction
- Google News: Augusta University cross country
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AUGUSTA STAFF WRITER The AUGUSTA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAugusta.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Augusta, Richmond County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Arts in the Heart Festival, Westobou Festival, and Masters Week. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Greater Augusta Arts Council, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare that power the local economy such as Textron Specialized Vehicles, Cardinal Health, and Nutrien. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAtlanta.com and HERESavannah.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Georgia's dynamic landscape.
