MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - For the first time since 2016, the Flagler College men's cross country team is the Peach Belt Conference Cross Country Champions.

Accumulating 19 total points, the Saints, led by Finn Russell, occupied six of the top-10 spots. Head coach Brian Beil swept his awards, earning the men's PBC Head Coach of the Year award, his first since 2016.

For the first time in his career, Russell is the individual champion. Russell finished eight seconds faster than his nearest competitor, with a time of 24:50.6. With this, Russell earned himself a new personal best by 12 seconds.

Runner-up, Will Stone, is named the PBC Runner of the Year for his contributions throughout the entire season. Coming into the championship, Stone boasted the fastest 8k time in the conference after his performance at the Lewis Crossover where he finished in 24:31.9. This morning Stone set a new career best in highest placement, coming in second in 24:58.3.

Barely missing third place by .3 of a second was freshman Axel Dabe with a time of 25:06.3. Dabe is the highest finishing freshman, earning him PBC Freshman of the Year.

Coach Beil remarked on the senior class contribution as they accounted for three of the top five finishers this year. "You need the right people on the bus, and we have done that. We have built this team on loyalty, trust and hard work... That senior class we just watched win that championship, that is what they are".

The remaining Saints to make it on the PBC All-Conference Team were Brandon Knieja, Miquel Fons, Bryce Dufrene, Jack Waters and Luke Larkin. Knieja finished one second shy of his personal best, earning himself fifth place. Fons shattered his previous personal best by 20.5 seconds, with a new 25:22.0 which earned him seventh place. Dufrene also set a new career high by 25 seconds, placing him eighth at 25:27.6. Waters was the final Saint to earn points towards the overall score, placing 12th in 25:42.5. Larkin was the final Saint on the all-conference team, placing 13th in a new personal best 25:44.4 which broke his previous by nearly a full minute.

"It is finally going to be a joyful bus ride home," Coach Beil said. "We have never had one, we have always won one (championship) and lost one".

The Saints will select seven of their top runners to compete at the NCAA Southeast Regional on Nov. 8, hosted by Wingate University, for a chance to compete at the NCAA National Championship.