Carolyn Jones from the University of California-San Diego has been named the 1999 NCAA Division III West 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.

Jones, a freshman from Atascadero, Calif., won the individual title at the West Regional on Nov. 13 to help the University of California-San Diego qualify as a team entrant for the NCAA Division III Championship. Jones won the West Regional title with a time of 18:02 on the 5,000-meter course. The Tritons won the 14-team West Regional with 57 points.

Earlier this year, Jones won individual titles at the University of California-Riverside Invitational and the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship.