Flagler College breaks the Peach Belt Conference women's cross-country record with their eight straight conference championship on Saturday morning at the Bobcat Cross Country Course. Chloe Smith led the Saints as they finished with 21 points.
Flagler surpasses the record of seven straight championships previously set by Kennesaw State from 1994-2000. The 2025 Championship marks ninth overall PBC Women’s Cross Country title for the Saints.
Augusta finished the event in second with 62 points, followed by North Georgia and GCSU.
Chloe Smith becomes the fourth straight Saint to claim the PBC Individual Champion honor as she completed the 5k course in a time of 18:42.9.
Augusta’s Madison Thomas was announced as PBC Runner of the Year, for her performances throughout the year, voted for by the coaches prior to the race. Thomas holds the fastest time in the PBC this season, running an 18:01.91 5k at the Queen City Royals XC Invitational. She has also been named PBC Runner of the Week on three occasions in 2025. Thomas finished today’s PBC Championship in third.
The top 15 runners were named to the All-Conference team. Ahna Hicks finished in fourth place with a time of 18:58.2 and was named PBC Freshman of the Year as the highest-finishing freshman.
Flagler’s Brian Beil was named the Coach of the Year for the eight straight season, voted for by the coaches following the conclusion of the PBC Championship meet.
The PBC also announced North Georgia’s Elizabeth Padilla Brun as the winner of the Elite 18 Award. The PBC Elite 18 Award is presented at each of the PBC's 18 championships to the student-athlete competing with the highest cumulative overall GPA. A senior from Suwanee, Ga., Padilla Brun holds a 4.00 GPA and is a recipient of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award and a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Gold Scholar, as well as a member of the PBC Team of Academic Distinction. Padilla Brun appeared in three races for the Nighthawks this year and is the second Nighthawk to win the Elite 18 Award in three years, following Ella Stoudenmire in 2023.
PBC All-Conference Team
1. Chloe Smith, Flagler
2. Abigail Misch, Flagler
3. Madison Thomas, Augusta
4. Ahna Hicks, North Georgia
5. Clemence Treguer, Flagler
6. Sophia Poling, Flagler
7. Zoie Marchant, Flagler
8. Marie Meyer-Piton, Flagler
9. Sophie May, Flagler
10. Kinga Borowska, Flagler
11. Maggie Welp, North Georgia
12. Maria Biondollilo, Augusta
13. Belicia O’Grady, Flagler
14. Tessie Braman, North Georgia
15. Carly Fuel, Lander
Runner of the Year, presented by College Ave.
Madison Thomas, Augusta
Freshman of the Year, presented by College Ave.
Ahna Hicks, North Georgia
Individual Champion
Chloe Smith, Flagler
Women’s Cross Country Elite 18 Award
Elizabeth Padilla Brun, North Georgia
Coach of the Year
Brian Beil, Flagler
Women’s Cross Country All Sportsmanship Team
Augusta- Swaye Mohler
Clayton State- Kalkidan Hawkins
Columbus State- Anna Petallar
Flagler- Abby Misch
GCSU- Campbell Smith
GSW- Sonja Bernacki
Lander- Rachel Schenck
Middle Georgia- Berta Castelló Petrus
North Georgia- Maggie Welp
USCA- Bailey Kirkland
USC Beaufort- Chandler Riley