Georgia cross country runner Carly Hamilton has been named the Southeastern Conference Co-Women’s Freshman of the Week, according to a league announcement on Tuesday.

Carly Hamilton

Hamilton, a 5-foot-5 native of Springboro, Ohio, finished second overall out 97 competitors at the Georgia State Invitational in her first collegiate 6k race on Saturday. Hamilton clocked a 22:37 to lead the Lady Bulldogs to their second consecutive victory to start the 2011 campaign.

“It’s nice to see Carly get recognition for her efforts,” said Bulldog distance coach Jeff Pigg about his freshman miler. “I think this is the first of many big things that will happen for Carly in cross country and on the track. She is already a good fit at Georgia and someone I knew we wanted as soon as she was on our radar.”

This was the second time Hamilton has finished in the top 15 this year. At the season-opening Georgia Invitational, Hamilton took 15th with a 5k time of 18:41.91. Hamilton is the first freshman to lead the Georgia women since Sydney Marshall earned runner-up honors at the 2010 dual meet with Georgia Tech.

This is the first SEC award for Georgia’s cross country teams this season. Hamilton split this week’s award with Vanderbilt’s Amira Joseph.

Georgia returns to action at the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 30.