Women Third, Men Fifth at SEC Cross Country Championships

By Jacob Most
Nov. 1, 2013 –

Photo Gallery |
Results: Men | Women

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Kentucky cross country teams both took significant steps forward during Friday’s Southeastern Conference Championships at Florida’s Mark Bostick Golf Course.

The women’s team finished third, earning its highest conference meet placement since coming in second at the 2002 meet. The UK women placed fifth at the SEC Championships last year.

The men’s team battled to place fifth overall, which was one spot better than the previous season.

“Our journey for relevance took another step forward as both our men’s and women’s teams improved their finishes from last year,” head coach Edrick Floreal said. “I am very proud of our student-athletes as they continue to push themselves as we move forward toward our ultimate goal.”

Cally Macumber earned a First-Team All-SEC selection for the second consecutive season, with a seventh-place time of 20:35.82. Matt Hillenbrand picked up Second-Team All-SEC honors as he finished 12^th overall in 24:17.19.

Cassidy Hale was a SEC All-Freshman Team honoree, as she was the No. 5 first-year runner to cross the finish line, 26^th overall in 21:22.42.

Three Wildcats worked well together late to close out the race near one another as UK’s Nos. 2-4 finishers. Allison Peare was 23^rd in 21:17.83, while Anna Bostrom and the aforementioned Hale were 25^th and 26^th respectively with times 21:20.01 of 21:22.42.

Adam Kahleifeh was UK’s No. 2 finisher placing 16^th overall in his final SEC cross country race, with a time of 24:27.34. MacKay Wilson was the third Wildcat to come in, clocking a time of 25:04.36 for 36^th.

Jared Phillips was 49^th in 25:29.83, and Robert Scharold placed 68^th stopping the clock at 25:52.74.

Arkansas won both the men’s and women’s competitions, with Razorbacks Kemoy Campbell and Dominique Scott claiming the men’s and women’s individual races respectively.

The men’s field was made up of 114 runners, while the women’s race had 119 competitiors.

UK will next race at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships in Charlottesville, Va., with bids to the NCAA National Championships on the line, in two weeks.

SEC Cross Country Championships

Men’s Team Results

1. Arkansas: 31

2. Flordia: 96

3. Georgia: 101

4. Missouri: 107

5. Kentucky 173

Men’s Invididual Results (Winner and UK Only)

1. Kemoy Campbell (Arkansas): 22:58.73 –SEC Record–

12. Matt Hillenbrand: 24:17.19

16. Adam Kahleifeh: 24:27.34

36. MacKay Wilson: 25:04.36

49. Jared Phillips: 25:29.83

68: Robert Scharold: 25:52.74

71. Zach Beavin: 25:57.20