WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic cross country program earned a pair of regional awards from the USTFCCA on Thursday.
 
Colten Lee was named the South Region's runner of the year after winning the individual championship at the regional meet on Saturday. Lee won the NCAA South Region title in Lakeland, Fla., becoming the first runner in PBA men's cross country history to claim the individual championship. The junior surged to the front early and never relinquished control, crossing the line in 31:22.34 and winning by more than 14 seconds. The margin and the manner of the victory made his regional title one of the most convincing performances of the postseason.
 
The award recognizes a season in which Lee consistently elevated the Sailfish into national contention. He led PBA in every race he competed in this fall and delivered his best effort on the biggest stage, securing an individual berth to the NCAA Division II National Championships. He will represent the Sailfish in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Nov. 22.
 
PBA head coach Mark Rennix was named the region's women's cross country coach of the year. The honor comes in Rennix's first cross country season as the head coach of the 'Fish. PBA's women's team won the team championship at the NCAA South Region meet in Lakeland on Saturday. The win earned PBA the second team berth to the NCAA national meet in program history.
 
The Sailfish women's cross country team finished the season with five top-5 finishes. PBA narrowly missed out on a Sunshine State Conference championship, earning second at the conference meet. The program had four all-region and all-conference honorees, Beth Sykes, Jeanne Corroy, Dominyka Petraskaite, and Ruth Spijker.