Jackson Watts Named SEC Men’s Freshman Runner of the Week

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Freshman Jackson Watts of University of Kentucky men’s cross country has been named the Southeastern Conference Men’s Freshman Runner of the Week after his competitive run in the men’s garnet 8K at the Florida State University Invitational/Pre-Nationals on Friday, October 15. 

Watts led all UKXC freshmen with a 178th place finish (24:49.5) and was in the SEC’s top five true freshman finishers. 

“I’m blessed to have the ability to work hard and do what I love every day,” Watts said. 

Watts’ coach, Hakon DeVries, has been happy about his growth since he began running at UK. 

“I’m really pleased at Jackson’s growth as a runner so far this fall,” DeVries said. “I look forward to him building on the momentum from last week at Pre-Nationals and bringing the same competitive attitude and toughness to his first SEC Championship.” 

Arkansas, Florida, Ole Miss, Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama were the SEC teams that joined Kentucky at Pre-Nationals. 

The freshman from Slaughters, Kentucky has now competed in three meets for the Wildcats, highlighted by a 16th (25:36.0) place finish in the men’s open five-mile race at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. 

Watts will run again at the 2021 SEC Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri at the University of Missouri on Friday, October 29. 

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