MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The 22nd Peach Belt Conference Championships took place on Saturday, Oct. 20 in Montevallo, Ala. at Montevallo's home course with the men's 8K at 9:00 a.m. and the women's 6K at 9:45 a.m.
The Augusta State men's team, ranked fourth in the latest region poll, sent seven runners to the contest in hopes of repeating last year's championship effort, but finished runner-up to Columbus State who took the title with six runners finishing in the top-15. Flagler finished third, UNC Pembroke fourth, Clayton State fifth and Georgia College sixth. Young Harris, appearing in its first PBC Championship, was seventh, followed by, Montevallo, Francis Marion, and Armstrong Atlantic State.
ASU sophomore Jaiden Brandt led the team, crossing the line at 25:41.76 for fourth place overall and junior Dustin Ross was close behind, finishing eighth at 26:00.44. Brandt and Ross led the team at last year's championships as well. Josh Stockton finished 16th in 26:40.99, Preston Jones 20th in 27:06.75, Shane Huckeba and Matthew Johnson took 24th and 25th at 27:19.22 and 27:22.24, respectively, and Jordan Herbert rounded out the Jags in 27:37.50 for 30th.
UNC Pembroke's Pardon Ndhlovu was the favorite for Saturday's race as returning champion and proved why, winning the race with a time of 24:20.39.
Molly Walton, usually found on the Jaguars' softball diamond, provided her efforts to the cross country team. Walton was fifth in steals for the PBC in 2012 and crossed the line ahead of 18 competitors in this year's title race.
UNC Pembroke's Liva Mahaffie won the race in 22:36.83. Clayton State won the team contest with Columbus State taking second, UNC Pembroke third, Montevallo fourth, Georgia College fifth, Young Harris sixth, Flagler seventh, North Georgia eighth, Augusta State ninth, and Georgia Southwestern, USC Aiken and Francis Marion took the bottom three.
The Jaguars now set their sights on the NCAA Southeast Regional, slated for Saturday, Nov. 3 at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, N.C.
Augusta State Women's Individual Results (6K)
14. Jessica Carpenter............. 23:30.83
34. Alicia Connolly............... 24:29.42
50. Stephanie Cipollone......... 25.50.97
65. Molly Walton…………………..27:30.50
73. Vera Nisa…………………………29:43.74
Augusta State Men's Individual Results (8K)
4. Jaiden Brandt................. 25:41.76
8. Dustin Ross.................... 26:00.44
16. Josh Stockton................. 26:40.99
20. Preston Jones.................. 27:06.75
24. Shane Huckeba............... 27:19:22
25. Matthew Jones................ 27:22.24
30. Jordan Herbert................ 27:37.50