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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University men's and women's cross country teams released their 2018 schedule that features two home for the Jaguars, including the Peach Belt Conference Championships.
>>> View the 2018 schedule by clicking here
Coach Adam Ward, who won his eighth Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year award last season in 2017, is ready for another season entering his 15th year at the helm of the Jags.
"We are excited to host not only a home meet this fall, but also the Peach Belt Championships," Ward said. "Two great opportunities for local fans and spectators to come see our men and women compete. Redcliffe Plantation is a gorgeous venue. It will provide for not only a great race atmosphere for the student athletes, but an amazing viewing experience for spectators."
This year's schedule begins with the Bulldog Invitational on Sept. 8, hosted by the University of Georgia, in Athens, Ga. The annual Jaguar Cross Country Invitational takes place on Sept. 15. Augusta hosts its event for the first time at Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site in Beech Island, S.C. beginning at 8:45 a.m. The men's team will run an 8K and the women's team will run a 5K.
The teams travel to Gainesville, Ga. on Sept. 29 for the North Georgia Invitational in Dahlonega, Ga., where the teams will get a glimpse at the regional course. This will be the women's first 6K run of the season and the men will race another 8K.
After a short break, the Jags head to Milledgeville, Ga. to compete at the Georgia College Bobcat Invitational on Oct. 20. This event includes a men's 8K and a women's 6K race.
The next event is the 2018 Peach Belt Conference Championships slated for Saturday, Nov. 3, also hosted by Augusta at Redcliffe Plantation. The conference championship features a men's 8K and women's 5K.
"Our men and women are both setting high goals to win the PBC championship at home this year," Ward said. "It won't be easy as the Peach Belt typically has some of the best cross country programs in the southeast region."
Two weeks later, the Jags compete in the NCAA Southeast Regional hosted by North Georgia in Oakwood, Ga. on Saturday, Nov. 17. The men will race their first 10K of the season and the women will run another 6K. The 2018 NCAA Championships will be held in Pittsburg, Pa. on Dec. 1.
Last season, AU's women's cross country team ranked sixth in the NCAA Southeast Region poll and finished sixth in the region race. The Jags were runner up at the 2017 PBC Championships and had four more runner-up finishes and one win in the regular season. The team was also named an NCAA DII All-Scholar Team. Returning runners include McKenzie Knudsen and Micah Weathers who were named All-Conference in 2017. Weathers is coming back as a sophomore after being named the PBC Freshman of the Year.
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