LEXINGTON, Ky. ? University of Kentucky runner junior Jessica Ortman (Williamsville, N.Y.) has been named the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Female Athlete of the Week the league announced Tuesday. The SEC award is the second for the Wildcats this season and the first such honor for Ortman.

Ortman?s 5K time of 17:38 at the Old Timers Classic in Bowling Green, Ky., Saturday tops the list of SEC performances at that distance this season. In a field of 100 runners at Western Kentucky?s Kereiakes Park, Ortman?s performance helped UK remain undefeated and outpace the second-place team by 47 points. The transfer from the University at Albany finished first on the team and second overall in both of her meets as a Wildcat.

?Jessica has been a great addition to our UK women?s cross country team,? said Kentucky first-year cross country/middle distance coach John Mortimer. ?As a junior transfer, she comes to UK as an accomplished college athlete. In doing so, she has helped elevate the level of training and racing for the entire women?s squad.?

Ortman joins fellow UK harrier, Bruce Hordusky of the men?s team, who was honored as the conference athlete of the week following the Cats? first meet of the season.

The Wildcat cross country teams return to action on Sat., Sept. 29, when they travel to the Derby City to run in the Greater Louisville Classic.