AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University women's cross country team is set to open the 2025 season on Friday, Sept. 5, at the Converse Kick Off in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Jaguars enter the year coming off a strong 2024 campaign that saw them finish as runner-up at the Peach Belt Conference Championship and place sixth at the NCAA Southeast Regional. Head Coach Jacob Burgamy returns a veteran group anchored by All-Conference performers Maria Biondollilo and Sophia Cook, who both placed inside the top 10 at last year's PBC Championship.
Augusta was recently picked second in the PBC preseason poll, collecting 89 points and one first-place vote. Flagler, last year's champion and an NCAA qualifier, was the preseason favorite.
"It's going to be tough because Flagler is really good, but that's the goal," Burgamy said. "I think we can definitely give them a run for it and that's our goal. With Flagler being a team that made it to Nationals last year and projected to make it this year, if we can win conference, you're a team that can qualify for Nationals, so those are the goals."
The Jaguars will rely on depth to challenge for a title. Madison Thomas, a top-20 finisher at the NCAA Southeast Regional last fall, returns to lead alongside Biondollilo and Cook. Grace Gyetko is coming off a strong track season, while USC Aiken transfer Gabrielle Jourdain — the Pacers' school record holder — adds immediate experience. Burgamy also expects several freshmen to make an impact after strong summer training blocks.
"We need some new people to step up," continued Burgamy. "But Madison Thomas was in the top 20 in the regionals last year, who is a really good returner and hopefully she can do that again. I think Maria Biondollio can be doing the same. Sophia Cook ran well last year and was our sixth runner. Then Grace Gyetko had a good track season and a good summer block, so I think she's going to build on that as well. Gabrielle Jourdain, she's transferred from USC Aiken and was their school record holder and had a good summer. I think she's going to be a huge help to us. And then we have a few freshmen coming in that have made big jumps."
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Sept. 5 – Converse Kick Off (Spartanburg, S.C.)
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Sept. 12 – Queen City Invitational (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 26 – Bobcat Invitational (Milledgeville, Ga.)
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Oct. 10 – Royals Challenge (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 25 – Peach Belt Conference Championships (Milledgeville, Ga.)
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Nov. 8 – NCAA Southeast Regional (Wingate, N.C.)
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Nov. 22 – NCAA National Championship (Kenosha, Wis.)
The Jaguars will compete in four regular-season meets — beginning Friday at the Converse Kick Off — before postseason racing begins with the PBC Championships on Oct. 25.
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