AUGUSTA, GA -- Five-time defending PBC men's cross country champion Augusta University has been selected as the 2024 favorite in a poll of the league's head coaches released on Monday. The Jaguars received all eight first-place votes available to them for a maximum score of 64 points. Flagler was in second place with 57 followed by Columbus State, Georgia College & State University and Clayton State.

"Proud to see our men & women ranked as high as they are in the preseason polls," said head coach Jacob Burgamy. "Their hard work keeps paying off. We just have to continue keeping our heads down and focusing on getting better each day so that these predictions can be a reality in a couple of months."
 

Augusta won their fifth PBC title in a row in 2023, six in the last seven years, just one shy of the PBC record for consecutive championships set by Kennesaw State from 1994-99. The 2023 team also finished second in the NCAA Southeast Regionals to advance to the national championships. Most of that team returns for 2024 with six All-Conference performers returning including 2023 PBC individual champion Brandon Martin and 2023 Runner of the Year Avery Jaynes.The Jaguars open the season September 23 in Boone, N.C. at the Fire Tower Project hosted by Appalachian State. 

The 2024 coaches poll is below; coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.

2024 Peach Belt Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Augusta (8) 64

2. Flagler 57

3. Columbus State 45

4. GCSU 43

5. Clayton State 33

6. USC Aiken 31

7. Lander 22

8. USC Beaufort 19

9. GSW 10

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