AUGUSTA, GA -- Augusta University was selected as the Peach Belt men's cross country preseason favorite in a poll of the league's head coaches released on Tuesday. The Jaguars received seven of a possible nine first-place votes for 58 points. Flagler, who received the other two first-place votes, was second with Columbus State third and Georgia College & State University fourth.
Augusta has won the PBC Championship in five of the last six years including the last four in a row, tied for the third-longest win streak in league history. The 2023 Jaguars return 11 runners from that championship team including All-Conference runners Avery Jaynes, Thomas Rishar, Patrick Motes, Carlos Rodriguez and Andrew Todd.
The 2023 season will begin for eight of the PBC's nine teams on Friday, Sept. 1. The 2023 PBC Championships will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, and hosted by North Georgia.
2023 PBC Men's Cross Country
Preseason Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
| 1. |
Augusta (7) |
63 |
| 2. |
Flagler (2) |
58 |
| 3. |
Columbus State |
50 |
| 4. |
Georgia College & State University |
42 |
| 5. |
Clayton State |
31 |
| 6. |
Lander |
25 |
| 7. |
USC Aiken |
23 |
| 8. |
USC Beaufort |
21 |
| 9. |
Georgia Southwestern |
11 |