Rhaina Echols from the University of Chicago (Ill.) has been named the 1999 NCAA Division III Midwest Region Women'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 women's cross country regions. The announcement is held in conjunction with the NCAA Division III Championship, which is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Nov. 20.

Echols, a senior from Glendale, Calif., won the Midwest Regional title on Nov. 13 to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championship. The English major won the Midwest Regional title with a time of 17:16 on the 5,000-meter course. She is one of two representatives for the Maroons at the NCAA Division III Championship. Echols won all eight meets that she competed in for the University of Chicago in 1999, including the University Athletic Association Championship.

Last year, Echols helped the Maroons to a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship by finishing third with a time of 18:02. Echol's performance gained her All-America accolades.