Frank McCartney of Franklin & Marshall College (Pa.) has been named the 1999 NCAA Division III Mideast Region Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year. The United States Track Coaches Association and Mondo Surfacing selects and presents the award annually to the top athlete in each of the eight NCAA Division III men's cross country regions. The announcement is made in conjunction with the NCAA Division III Championship, which was hosted today (Nov. 20) by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

McCartney, a senior from Chalfont, Pa., won the individual title at the Mideast Regional on Nov. 13 to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championship. The government major won the event with a time of 25:31 on the 8,000-meter course. McCartney was the lone representative for the Diplomats at the NCAA Division III Championship.

McCartney won three of the seven meets that he competed in for the Diplomats this season, including the Centennial Conference Championship. Last year, McCartney finished 30th at the NCAA Division III Championship to gain All-America accolades.