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Peter Thomas of Keene State College (N.H.) has been named the 1999 NCAA Division III New England Region Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year. The United States Track Coaches Association and Mondo Surfacing selects and presents the award annually to a top coach in each of the eight NCAA Division III men's cross country regions.

Thomas, who recently completed his 17th season as head coach of the Owls, guided Keene State College to a second-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship held Nov. 20 in Winneconne, Wis. The Owls scored 100 points, 16 more than champion North Central College (Ill.), to record their highest finish at the NCAA Division III Championship in school annals. They also had three All-Americans at the event.

Keene State College qualified as a team entrant for the NCAA Division III Championship by winning the 31-team New England Regional held Nov. 13. The Owls placed five runners in the top 24 individual finishes at the New England Regional to win the meet by 43 points over second-place Tufts University (Mass.).

In addition to its title at the NCAA Division III New England Regional, Keene State College also won the Middlebury College Invitational, Keene State College Invitational and the Little East Championship during the 1999 season.

Thomas, who has guided Keene State College to three consecutive appearances at the NCAA Division III Championship as a team entrant, is a 1977 graduate of Keene State College.

Branwen Smith-King of Tufts University (Mass.) was named the 1999 NCAA Division III New England Region Women's Cross County Coach of the Year.