Sept. 16, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky runner Colin Heenan has been named the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Male Athlete of the Week as well as the Male Freshman of the Week the league office in Birmingham, Ala., announced Tuesday.

The SEC awards are the first for the Wildcats this season and the first honors for Heenan.

The Liverpool, N.Y., native finished seventh overall and crossed the finish line first for the Wildcats last weekend at the Memphis Twilight Classic. Heenan was the second freshman to cross the line in a field of 238 runners and his 8K mark of 25:25 currently leads the conference at that distance.

Heenan led UK to a third-place team finish among 29 squads. The rookie harrier led a trio of Wildcats in the top 10, along with junior Jeremy Zagorski and sophomore Adam Henken who immediately followed Heenan in the standings. Seven UK men finished in the top 20 and all 11 runners placed in the top 50.

Heenan is a second-year student at UK but sat out last year’s cross country and indoor track seasons after battling severe anemia that went undiagnosed until his arrival in Lexington. Now with a clean bill of health, Heenan has capitalized on his off-season training to become one of UK’s early frontrunners on a youthful team.

“I’m really happy for Colin, he thought about throwing in the towel last year before his diagnosis but he stuck it out,” said Kentucky assistant coach for cross country and distance John Mortimer. “Sometimes this sport is all about perseverance.”

Three current Wildcats, Bruce Hordusky, Jessica Ortman and Leah Ryan earned conference cross country awards last season.

The UK men are currently ranked 15th in the Southeast Region preseason rankings while the Wildcat women are ranked fourth in the regional rankings.

Both UK squads will have a short week of practice before traveling to New York to compete at the Iona Meet of Champions on Saturday.