Sept. 6, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky junior cross country runner Luis Orta has been named the Southeastern Conference Men’s Runner of the Week, as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.

Orta won the season-opening Belmont-VU Opener on Friday with a time of 15:22.40, defeating all other runners by 4.53 seconds. The native of Caracas, Venezuela has led Kentucky with the fastest time on the team in six of Kentucky’s last seven races dating back to the 2010 season. Orta’s win helped propel the men’s team to claim first-place honors at the meet.

This is the second time Orta has been named SEC Men’s Runner of the Week. The junior won the award at the beginning of the 2010 season after winning the San Francisco Invitational.

The 2009 All-SEC freshman and second-team selection has been a staple up front for the men’s cross country team. Orta earned three top-five overall finishes in 2010, and five top-31 finishes.

The men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete again Sept. 17 at the Tennessee Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn.