Nov. 3, 2008
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The University of Kentucky women’s cross country team finished sixth, while the men’s squad took home seventh at the Southeastern Conference Championships held at Mississippi State’s Cross Country Course in Starkville, Miss., on Monday.
The Wildcats battled a course with several inclines and temperatures above 70 degrees during their morning races.
UK sophomore Adam Henken slowly worked his way up through the field passing several runners on the final two loops of the 8K course. He clocked in at 24:12 to place 14th overall and earn All-SEC Second Team honors. The award is Henken’s second from the conference after claiming All-SEC Freshman Team accolades last year. The Catharpin, Va., native has finished first on the team in four consecutive meets this season.
“Adam Henken took another huge step in his young career with this performance,” UK assistant coach for cross country and distance John Mortimer said. “He is a very gifted and special athlete.”
Junior Will Rover completed his best race as a Wildcat to finish second on the team with a personal-best 8K time of 25:08 to finish 32nd overall. Rover’s time improved by more than 90 seconds from his time at last season’s Championships.
“Will Rover ran the best race of his collegiate career when the stakes were high,” said Mortimer.
Two seniors crossed the finish together in their last conference meet. Chris Long took home 47th place with a time of 25:33 just steps ahead of Bruce Hordusky in 48th who turned in a final mark of 25:34. Junior Jeremy Zagorski continued his team scoring streak this season, placing fifth on the team and 61st overall in a time of 25:55.
Freshman John Luttrell charged across the finish two seconds behind Zagorski at 25:57 in 62nd place. Joe Jackson (67th – 26:04) and Colin Heenan (70th – 26:12) followed their classmate across the finish. Senior Zach Wilder (74th – 26:23) and freshman Walter Luttrell (83rd – 26:45) rounded out the field of Wildcat runners.
The Wildcat men improved two spots upon their finish at the 2007 Championships placing seventh in the league with 192 points, six points behind Mississippi State. Alabama won the men’s title after placing five runners in the top 10.
“One of our men’s team goals was to be better than we were last year and this young team improved from last year,” said Mortimer.
On the women’s side, UK senior Jessica Ortman continued her solid season by finishing 15th overall with a season-best 6K time of 21:07. Ortman has led the Wildcats across the finish line at each meet this season. Senior Jenna Ortman clocked in at 21:30 to place 18th overall. Sophomore Katherine Peterson finished steps behind for third place on the squad, crossing the finish line in 21:39 – good for 24th overall.
Senior Andrea Halasek turned in a solid mark of 21:59 to place 34th in the final standings. Rounding out the scorers for Kentucky in the 43rd slot was junior Lindsay Petri stepping across the line in 22:20. UK junior Claire Laverty (66th – 22:13) and sophomore Suzanne Holt (72nd – 23:22) completed the UK line-up at the Championships.
The UK women placed sixth with 134 points, just seven points behind Auburn in fifth. Arkansas clinched the women’s title.
“It is rare that all five runners have their very best day on the same day,” said Mortimer. “With just one runner off of her game a little it was a difference between a finish in third or fourth place or in sixth in a very competitive conference.”
Click UKathletics.com for the latest cross country news leading up to the NCAA Southeast Regional in two weeks.
