SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Augusta University women's cross country team opened the 2026 season with a seventh-place finish at the Eye Opener Friday evening in Spartanburg. The Jaguars finished second among Division II teams in the 13-team field, trailing only UNC Pembroke.
Augusta totaled 179 points and finished ahead of Division II programs USC Aiken, Southern Wesleyan, Tusculum and Emory & Henry. The Jaguars also finished ahead of Division I USC Upstate.
Freshmen Kaitlyn Lumbra and Ella Gibbs led Augusta in their collegiate debuts. Lumbra finished 17th overall in the 5K with a time of 18:48.1, while Gibbs followed in 23rd at 19:09.0.
Junior Ansley Best was Augusta's third finisher in 20:05.9, followed by senior Maria Biondollilo in 20:12.5 and senior Danielle Thayer in 20:21.8 to round out the Jaguars' scoring five.
Caleigh Munro finished in 20:27.7, followed by Amelia Ogden in 20:32.4 and freshman Adeline Althen in 20:45.6. Brie Andrews crossed in 21:19.1, Mary Elizabeth Drew in 21:42.6, Carlee Hodges in 21:54.7 and Reagan Paine in 22:00.4.
Gabriella Burton finished in 22:23.4, followed by Allison Moore in 22:55.3, Jupiter Boers in 23:14.8, Lily McDonald in 23:51.0 and Anna Biondolillo in 25:32.0.
TEAM RESULTS
- South Carolina – 26
- Clemson – 52
- Liberty – 90
- East Tennessee State – 114
- Longwood – 135
- UNC Pembroke – 165
- Augusta – 179
- USC Upstate – 261
- Wofford – 282
- USC Aiken – 293
- Southern Wesleyan – 324
- Tusculum – 335
- Emory & Henry – 357
Augusta returns to action Friday, Sept. 11, at the Queen City Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina.
