INDIANAPOLIS ? Former Kentucky distance runner Thomas Morgan (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) has been named the United States Track and Field Association Athlete of the Week for Jan.2, the organization announced Wednesday.

The award, the first such honor of his career, came after he won the men?s 4-mile road race at the 28th annual Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in New York?s Central Park. Morgan finished the race in 18:31, just three seconds off the course record.

The USATF Athlete of the Week award is in its sixth year and named a new honoree each week on the organization?s Web site. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Morgan had an impressive career while at UK for both track and cross country. He was named the 2003 Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year and was a two-time track All-American in the Distance Medley. In 2003, he captured the SEC Individual Cross Country Championship, the first runner from UK to do so in 16 years.

For more information, please log on to www.usatf.org.