University of Kentucky?s Allison Grace was named SEC Female Cross Country Athlete of the Week Monday after earning her first collegiate victory at the Woodford Trials. Grace ran her fastest time in three years with a mark of 11:45 while leading her team to a first-place finish Friday in Versailles, Ky.

?We are very pleased,? said head coach Don Weber, ?It makes the award that much more gratifying when an athlete trains hard in the off season. That is the difference in great athletes ? they are willing to self motivate.?

Grace, a 2002 All-SEC and All-Regional selection, earned all conference honors after a 10th-place finish, the highest finish by a freshman, at the SEC Championships. UK took second place in the meet, which was held at Gainesville, Fla.

The Wildcats return to action at the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 25 in Palo Alto, Calif.