UF XC: Morley named SEC Newcomer of the Year

The English native garners the inaugural award given to the top transfer to join the conference.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gators Women’s Cross Country runner Beth Morley has been honored as the inaugural SEC Newcomer of the Year, the Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday. The new annual award aims to recognize the top transfer athlete to join the SEC from outside of the conference.

In her NCAA debut at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo., Morley broke out with a sixth-place finish and a 20:08.3 time (6k). She was the first Gator to cross the line in a 131 point, 4th-place team finish.

At her first postseason race, Morley finished 28th with a 20:00.2 time, helping loft the Gators to a 3rd-place team finish.

In last weekend’s NCAA South Regional, she finished 16th with a 20:21.0 time, earning a USTFCCCA All-Region team selection and pushing the Gators to a second-place team finish with an Automatic qualification to the NCAA Championship race in Madison, Wis. on Nov. 23.

The Morley File:
Morley, a native of West Yorkshire, England, joined the Gators after a successful career at Loughborough University in Loughborough, England. The redshirt-junior authored a stellar career in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) ranks before travelling across the pond.

She was the 2023 BUCS Cross Country Short Course (6k) champion, and finished fifth at the 2024 BUCS Cross Country Long Course (8k) championship in 2024. On the Track, she was the 2023 BUCS 1500m champion.

2024 SEC Cross Country Annual Award Honorees
Men’s Runner of the Year
Patrick Kiprop, Arkansas

Men’s Freshman of the Year
Dismus Lokira, Alabama

Men’s Newcomer of the Year
Elyas Ayyoub, Ole Miss

Men’s Coach of the Year
Chris Bucknam, Arkansas

Women’s Runner of the Year
Doris Lemngole Alabama

Women’s Freshman of the Year
Brenda Jepchirchir, Auburn

Women’s Newcomer of the Year
Beth Morley, Florida

Women’s Coach of the Year
Dan Waters, Alabama