Nov. 4, 2002
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Kentucky women’s cross country team proved it was back in championship form by placing second at the Southeastern Conference Championship on Monday, Nov. 4, in Gainesville, Fla. The team was paced by three Wildcats in the top-10, including Caitlin Phillips in fourth place.
It was the best team finish for UK since the Cats took back-to-back league titles in 1988 and 1989. The Wildcats have had five top-two finishes in the past 19 years. The Cats have won the SEC title three times overall, including the 1985 championship.
“The women ran very well today, obviously,” Coach Don Weber said. “After the way they’ve been racing and competing all season, this wasn’t unexpected. I’m very pleased with their approach to competing this year and it paid off for them today.”
Also finishing among the leaders were Brooke Patterson in ninth and Allison Grace in 10th place in the 5k race. Phillips, Patterson and Grace earned All-SEC honors, which are given to the top-15 individual finishers. Freshman Leah Kerstetter took 21st, Roseline Addo was 35th and Beth Heimann rounded out the group at 36th.
Arkansas took its fifth consecutive team title, while Lady Razorback Christin Wurth was the top individual in the meet with a time of 21:04.87.
On the men’s side, David Freeman led the Wildcats to a seventh-place team finish. He finished the 8k-race in 25:34.77 for 10th place and earned All-SEC honors. Arkansas took the men’s title for the 11th consecutive year, while Alabama’s David Kimani won the race with a time of 24:05.18.
“I think many of the men overreacted,” Weber said. “Several of them ran too hard way too early. David (Freeman) was tremendous. To finish 10th in the SEC in his first season of cross country, high school or college, is amazing. He has really grown tremendously as a track athlete.”
The Wildcats continue the season on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the NCAA Southeast Regional in Greenville, S.C. Race times have not been set. The races will be run at Overton’s Lake Kristi.
