There are lots of good choices in the 1 - 1.2k range. Your not a particularly heavy clyde so frame material won't be much of an issue. Your biggest concern should be the wheels. I'd say to go to your LBS, test ride every road bike they carry in your price range, then buy the one that screams "crssnyder: ride me like you stole me!"
Once you have chosen your steed ride er till the rims are beyond repair then invest in a set of hand built ones. Sorry but I just can't justify immediately throwing out perfectly good rims when the stock ones might be fine for a couple thousand miles