Dave Davis from the University of Puget Sound (Wash.) has been named the 1999 NCAA Division III West 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.

Davis, a senior form Portland, Ore., won the individual title at the West Regional on Nov. 13 to help the University of Puget Sound qualify as a team entrant for its first NCAA Division III Championship. The psychology major won the West Regional title with a time of 25:33 on the 8,000-meter course. The Loggers won the 15-team West Regional with 75 points.

Davis won all six meets that he competed in for the Loggers this year, including the Sun Dodger Invitational and the Northwest Conference Championship. The league title was the second in as many years for Davis.