AUGUSTA, GA -- For the second straight season, Augusta's Avery Jaynes have been named the Peach Belt Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year, presented by College Ave. Jaynes becomes the fifth men's runner to do so. It is the first time since 2009-10 that both the men's and women's Runners of the Year are repeat winners.

A senior from Brooklet, Ga., Jaynes 2024 fall season was disrupted by Hurricane Helene, limiting the three-time All-Conference selection to two appearances this season. He finished in third place at the Firetower Project meet in a field consisting largely of Division I teams with an 8k time of 23:59.0. He then finished fifth in a massive field at the Louisville Classic in a time of 24:02.8. Those were the top two 8k times run in the PBC this season. He is currently ranked as the 19th best runner in Division II by the Stride Report while Augusta as a team is ranked #17 nationally. Jaynes is the sixth Jaguar to be named the PBC Runner of the Year but the first to repeat the honor.

The 2024 PBC Championships will be held this Saturday morning at the UNG Cross Country Course on the UNG Gainesville Campus in Oakwood, Ga. The men's 8k begins at 9:00 am with the women's 5k at 10:15 am. Meet information can be found here. The men's cross country team aims to defend their title, having won the last five consecutive conference championships.

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