Heather Stone of the University of the South (Tenn.) has been named the 1999 NCAA Division III South/Southeast 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.

Stone, a senior from Chattanooga, Tenn., won the individual title at the South/Southeast Regional on Nov. 13 to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championship. The biology major won the South/Southeast Regional title with a time of 18:23 on the 5,000-meter course. Stone is one of two representatives for the Lady Tigers at the NCAA Division III Championship.

Stone won seven of the eight meets that she competed in for the University of the South this year, including the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship. The 1999 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Female Athlete of the Year finished 87th at the NCAA Division III Championship a year ago.