AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta State women’s cross country program will run in the Peach Belt Conference Championships this weekend when the PBC hosts its 19th Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Luther Britt Park in Lumberton, N.C. The championship is the first of the PBC-GEICO Championship Series and brings together the largest field for a cross country championship the PBC has had since 2003. The women’s 6k race will begin at 8:30 a.m., while the men will run an 8k at 9:15 a.m. Admission to the races is free.

The women’s field will feature 11 teams for the first time since 2003 as Flagler and Montevallo compete for their first conference championships since joining the league this year. The women’s race was changed from a 5k to a 6k run to mirror the length of the NCAA regional race in two weeks.

The challenge for all teams competing will be to dethrone Columbus State, who is poised to win its fifth straight conference title. CSU’s four championships in a row is the second-longest streak in conference history only to the seven in a row Kennesaw State claimed from 1994-2000.

Augusta State, ranked fifth in the NCAA Southeast Region, finished ahead of CSU in the NCAA Regionals last year to earn their first trip to the NCAA National Finals. ASU has run five races this season but has yet to face CSU head-to-head. The Jaguars won the PBC Pre-Conference meet at Luther Britt Park in September and have three top-three results this season. Freshman Holly Keeper was second overall at the Pre-Conference and has led the team in each race she has run.

The cross country championships will be part of the annual Chevy to the Levee community engagement event held in the park. This year will mark the seventh year of the Jerry Johnson Chevy to the Levee 5K trail race at Luther Britt Park. In addition to the trail races, there is a Family Fun Mile that begins at 10:30 a.m. The 5k will begin at 11:30 a.m. The Chevy to the Levee features kayak and canoe rides, inflatable water toys, live music and much more.