2017 SEC Cross Country Awards announced
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Southeastern Conference announced its 2017 cross country awards on Wednesday, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
The men's recipients include Alabama's Vincent Kiprop (Runner of the Year), Arkansas' Matt Young (Freshman of the Year), Arkansas' Alex George (Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year), Georgia's Bryan Kamau (Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year), Kentucky's Jacob Thomson (Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year) and Arkansas' Chris Bucknam (Coach of the Year).
The women's recipients include Missouri's Karissa Schweizer (Runner of the Year), Arkansas' Lauren Gregory (Freshman of the Year), Kentucky's Katy Kunc (Scholar-Athlete of the Year) and Arkansas' Lance Harter (Coach of the Year).
Kiprop was named the SEC Men's Runner of the Year after he took home the SEC men's cross country individual title. He clocked an 8K time of 23:15.4 at the UGA Golf Course in Athens, Ga.
Schweizer was chosen as the SEC Female Runner of the Year for the second consecutive year after winning her second straight SEC individual title. She finished the 6K race in 19:36.3.
Young, the Men's Freshman Runner of the Year, was the first freshman to complete the race by finishing in 11th place on the 8K course with a time of 24:10.8, earning him a spot on the Men's All-Freshman Team.
Gregory was named the Women's Freshman of the Year after finishing as the top female freshman at the SEC Championships with a time of 20:41.2 to place eighth overall. For her efforts, she also earned spots on the All-SEC Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
George is a senior with a 3.54 grade point average in criminal justice. He finished fourth at the SEC Championship. Kamau, who was 12th at the SEC Championship, has a 3.57 grade point average as a senior in financial planning. Thomson, a senior in accounting and finance, holds a 3.63 grade point average. He placed fifth at the SEC Championship.
Kunc is a senior with a 3.63 grade point average in marketing and economics at Kentucky. She placed third at the SEC Championship and earned first team All-SEC honors.
Bucknam garnered his eighth consecutive SEC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year award after leading the Razorbacks to their eighth consecutive SEC Championship and 25th in the last 27 seasons.
Harter earned his 18th all-time SEC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year honor and his fifth consecutive such accolade after leading the Razorbacks to their fifth consecutive league crown and their league-leading 18th all-time.
2017 SEC Cross Country Awards
Men's Runner of the Year: Vincent Kiprop, Alabama
Men's Freshman Runner of the Year: Matt Young, Arkansas
Men's Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Alex George, Arkansas
Men's Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Bryan Kamau, Georgia
Men's Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Jacob Thomson, Kentucky
Men's Coach of the Year: Chris Bucknam, Arkansas
Women's Runner of the Year: Karissa Schweizer, Missouri
Women's Freshman Runner of the Year: Lauren Gregory, Arkansas
Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Katy Kunc, Kentucky
Women's Coach of the Year: Lance Harter, Arkansas