University of Kentucky Cross Country harrier, junior Bruce Hordusky (Erie, Pa.), has been named the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week while UK freshman middle distance runner Ben Miller (Ravenswood, W. Va.) appears in Sports Illustrated this week as one of its Faces in the Crowd.
The SEC award is the first for the Wildcats this season and the first such honor for Hordusky. The junior harrier led the UK men last week at the Eastern Kentucky Invitational, finishing first on the team and third overall. Hordusky?s combined 4-mile time of (19:17), shattered his mark at last year?s event by over 25 seconds.
?Bruce Hordusky made a huge improvement over last year finishing third overall as our number-one guy,? said Kentucky first-year cross country/middle distance coach John Mortimer.
Behind Hordusky?s strong performance, the Cats defeated Marshall 15-50 in the first meet of the season. Kentucky fell short of Eastern Kentucky 23-32 who hosted the event at the EKU Woodchip Trail in Richmond, Ky. last Friday.
UK freshman Ben Miller has been training alongside Hordusky and his fellow track and field teammates this fall under the tutelage of Mortimer. The rookie is the featured athlete in this week?s Sports Illustrated section Faces in the Crowd. A video is also featured on the magazine?s website.
Miller received recognition for his impressive collection of 15 state championships while attending Ravenswood High School. The multi-sport athlete compiled four team titles in cross country (2003-2006) and one in basketball in (2006). Miller served as team captain of both squads his senior year.
The young Wildcat also reigned in ten individual state outdoor track and field titles, finishing first three times in the 800m (1:57) and twice in the 400m (49.81). Miller also was part of five state relay champions as a member on the 4x800m and 4x400m relay teams respectively, running the anchor leg on the latter.
The Wildcat cross country team returns to action on Saturday Sept. 15 when it travels to Bowling Green Ky., to run in the Old Timer?s Classic hosted by Western Kentucky University.
