Michael Danahy of Bates College (Maine) has been named the 1999 NCAA Division III New England 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 held in conjunction with the NCAA Division III Championship, which is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Nov. 20.

Danahy, a senior from South Windsor, Conn., finished second at the New England Regional on Nov. 13 to help Bates College qualify as a team entrant for the NCAA Division III Championship. The biochemistry major finished second at the New England Regional with a time of 24:22 on the 8,000-meter course. The Bobcats finished fourth at the 31-team New England Regional with 119 points.

Earlier this year, Danahy finished first at the New England Small College Athletic Conference and State of Maine Championships. In all, Danahy won four of the six races that he competed in for Bates College this season.