MACON, Ga. – The Lander men's cross country team recorded its highest finish at the Peach Belt Conference Championships in 32 years, placing fourth in Saturday's 8K race at the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course.

The Bearcats totaled 153 points to finish fourth in the nine-team field, marking the program's best conference championship finish since 1994. Lander narrowly edged USC Beaufort, which finished fifth with 155 points.

Noah Larkin led the Bearcats with a 31st-place finish, crossing the line in 27:26.8. Sophomore Jonathan Cummings followed in 36th with a time of 27:35.3.

Sophomore Benjamin Carroll was the next Bearcat across the line, finishing 49th in 28:35.1, while senior Noah Chevalier followed closely behind in 51st at 28:35.9.

Junior Seth Hammon rounded out Lander's scoring five with a 56th-place finish in 28:48.3. Sophomore Griffin Freeman placed 61st in 29:14.1, while Tariku Thompson finished 66th in 29:55.6.

Cooper Mayo crossed the line in 71st at 30:09.0, followed by Ronin Kruse in 74th at 30:19.8 and Bryan Wright in 75th at 30:22.7. Noah Blankenship completed Lander's lineup with an 83rd-place finish in 32:52.6.

Augusta claimed the conference championship with 27 points, followed by Flagler in second with 44 and Georgia College in third with 62.

The Bearcats will now prepare for the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships on Nov. 21 at Milliken Arboretum in Spartanburg, S.C.