Identified as outstanding (13)
I believe the answer is:
distinguished
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'identified' is the first definition.
(distinguishing is a kind of identifying)
'outstanding' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for distinguished that I've seen before include "Acclaimed" , "Made out; illustrious" , "Differentiated; eminent" , "like a VIP" , "Uniquely recognised" .)