AU men's cross-country team returning to NCAA Division II nationals
By Christian Austin | Sports writer
The Augusta University men’s cross-country team secured a spot in the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship with a second-place finish at the Southeast Regional Championship on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Jaguars, who had six runners in the top 30 at the regional, earned a trip to Sacramento, Calif., where they will compete at the national level on Nov. 23.
Leading the Jaguars was Peach Belt Conference runner of the year Avery Jaynes, who took an impressive eighth place with a time of 29:44.9 on the 10-kilometer course.
Senior Jordan Robertson was close behind, finishing 10th in 30:05.6, followed by PBC freshman of the year Ani Tesfaye in 13th place with a time of 30:28.7. Senior Brandon Martin finished 20th, clocking in at 31:06.5, and sophomore Tripp Miller placed 23rd with a time of 31:17.9, rounding out Augusta’s top five.
Tesfaye reflected on the team’s strong performance, highlighting their dedication and hard work in the face of challenges.
“The men’s team did really well,” Tesfaye said. “We executed our plan and showed up when it mattered. Some of the guys were dealing with sickness, but it didn’t stop us from securing second place and making it to nationals.”
Tesfaye was satisfied with his own performance.
“I just aimed to stay close to Avery and help the team as much as I could,” he said. “In the end, I’m happy with how I did, and I’m proud of the guys for doing great too.”
The Jaguars scored 74 points overall, a solid team effort that placed them behind region champion and No. 1 ranked Wingate University, which had 15 points and took the top-six positions. Anderson University finished third with 102 points.
AU’s performance represents the culmination of months of rigorous training and determination for the team, which has been focused on national qualification all season.
For senior Patrick Motes, who finished 29th in 31:27.9, and sophomore Nasrudin Mohamed, who took 42nd place in 32:03.7, the opportunity to compete at nationals is a testament to the hard work and commitment demonstrated by every team member.
With runners peaking at the right time, Augusta is well-positioned for a competitive run at nationals.
Augusta’s cross-country team now looks ahead to the championships in Sacramento, where they hope to build on their regional success and represent their school on the national stage. They will be after a top-10 finish as a team, and runners like Jaynes will be looking to finish in the top 40. That’s the standard for making the all-America team.
Jaynes, Martin, Miller, Robertson and Tesfaye each made the all-region team.
The Augusta women finished sixth. Emily McBride finished 16th and Madison Kennedy 17th in the 6K race for the Jaguars. Both were named to the all-region team.
Contact Christian Austin at chaustin@augusta.edu.
Avery Jaynes was the top finisher for the Jaguars, who had six runners in the top 30. Jaynes ran the 10-kilometer race in 29 minutes, 44.9 seconds, good for eighth place in the individual race. The senior led AU to a second-place finish. (photo by Churchill Ezeokonkwo)
Emily McBride (L) and Madison Kennedy were the top finishers for the AU women. Both made the all-region team. (photo by Churchill Ezeokonkwo)
