Oct. 19, 2007

Lexington, Ky. – University of Kentucky runner Leah Ryan (Louisville, Ky.) has been named the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Female Freshman of the Week the league announced. The SEC award is the third for the Wildcats this season and the first honor for Ryan.

Ryan finished 31st overall last week at the Penn State National Invitational. With a 6K mark of 21:50, she was the fifth freshman to cross the finish line overall. The rookie harrier finished fourth on the team helping the Cats finish third overall behind two nationally ranked squads, and beat No. 17 Duke. Ryan has finished each meet this year as the top first-year runner on the squad.

“Because of her dedication and determination over the summer and this fall, Leah has elevated her level of training and performance,” said Kentucky first-year cross country/middle distance coach John Mortimer. “Her great race at Penn State was a result of all that hard work.”

After competing on UK’s track and field team last year, this is Ryan’s first season on the cross country squad with three years of eligibility remaining after this fall. She recorded the 6th-best 5K mark of freshman SEC runners this season in her hometown with a mark of 17:45.19 at the Greater Louisville Classic last month.

Ryan joins teammate Jessica Ortman who was honored as the conference female athlete of the week last month. Junior Bruce Hordusky, of the men’s squad, was honored as the conference male athlete of the week following the Cats’ first meet of the season.

Kentucky is peaking at the right time in the season. Ryan and the UK women’s squad earned five votes in the latest national poll as the top unranked team. The squad sits third in the Southeast region, its highest standing of the season. The UK men’s team also sits at its highest ranking in the Southeast region holding the ninth slot this week.

The Wildcats host the 2007 SEC Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park at 10 a.m. ET Saturday October 27.