Nov. 2, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Cally Macumber was named Southeastern Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year on Friday. The awards were determined by a vote of the league’s cross country coaches.
Macumber, a junior in cross country, is the first UK woman to earn the honor. The award comes in the midst of one of the best individual seasons in program history.
“This is a great accomplishment for Cally, our team and UK Athletics,” Kentucky cross country head coach Edrick Floreal said. “This is also a testament to Cally’s work ethic. She is a tone setter for what our team strides to accomplish in the coming years.”
The Rochester Hills, Mich., native won the SEC Championship Race on Oct. 26 and owns the SEC-best times at both 5,000 meters and 6K. She was also named a First Team All-SEC runner.
Macumber was the first Wildcat to win the women’s SEC Title since Valarie McGovern won the conference meet in 1989. Macumber was named SEC Athlete of the Week two times throughout the season, to go along with a pair of individual race wins.
Macumber finished inside the top 10 at every meet the Wildcats have competed in this season, and she placed in the top two at four-of-five races.
“Being named SEC Runner of the Year is a tremendous honor,” cross country women’s coach Hakon DeVries said. “I’m really proud of everything Cally has accomplished this season. She’s a great competitor, leader and most importantly a great teammate. I’m glad to see her hard work get recognition from our conference.”
The Kentucky cross country teams return to action on Nov. 9 for the NCAA Southeast Regional in Charlotte, N.C.
Follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram @KentuckyTrack.
2012 SEC Cross Country Awards
Men's Runner of the Year: Henry Lelei, Texas A&M
Men's Freshman Runner of the Year: Cale Wallace, Arkansas
Men's Coach of the Year: Chris Bucknam, Arkansas
Women's Runner of the Year: Cally Macumber, Kentucky
Women's Freshman Runner of the Year: Hannah Jumper, Vanderbilt
Women's Coach of the Year: Paul Spangler, Florida
Men’s All-SEC First Team
Henry Lelei, Texas A&M
Solomon Haile, Arkansas
Eric Fernandez, Arkansas
Kemoy Campbell, Arkansas
Matt Cleaver, Georgia
Peter Okwera, Tennessee
Mark Parrish, Florida
Men’s All-SEC Second Team
Hayden Legg, Missouri
Max Storms, Missouri
Luis Orta, Kentucky
Bryant Blahnik, Missouri
Layne Nixon, Arkansas
Brandon Lord, Georgia
Cale Wallace, Arkansas
Women’s All-SEC First Team
Cally Macumber, Kentucky
Florence Ngetich, Florida
Chelsea Oswald, Kentucky
Carly Hamilton, Georgia
Grace Heymsfield, Arkansas
Agata Strausa, Florida
Hannah Jumper, Vanderbilt
Women’s All-SEC Second Team
Kristen Findley, Vanderbilt
Katie Breathitt, Ole Miss
Andrina Schlaepfer, Arkansas
Diane Robison, Arkansas
Laura Carleton, LSU
Kayla Lampe, South Carolina
Callie Cooper, Florida
