Senior Kevin McCarthy, fresh off an NCAA Great Lakes Regional individual championship, has been named the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Men's Division III Regional Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

The award was voted on by the coaches within the division.

McCarthy, who also finished second at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship Meet, will join his Wabash teammates at this Saturday's NCAA National Championships. The Little Giants finished second as a team at Saturday's regional race for the second consecutive year to earn an automatic berth to the meet. Wabash finished 13th at last year's event. McCarthy competed as an individual in 2009, making this his third trip to the nationals overall.

A multiple All-American in track and field, McCarthy showed last week he could be one of the runners to watch at the championship meet, posting a winning time of 24:31 to win the meet by 13 seconds over NCAC champion Dee Salukombo from Denison.

"Each time I've competed at nationals, you see a lot of the same guys again and again," McCarthy said. "The real difference for me this year is that I've developed more confidence. I know I'm one of the guys in the lead pack. Sophomore year I really reached nationals on a prayer, and last year I was having problems being consistent throughout the season. This year I'm going to attack the meet a little differently."

Alison Steinbrunner from Ohio Northern was voted the Women's Athlete of the Year. Manchester College head coach Brian Cashdollar received Regional Coach of the Year honors. A complete list of award winners can be viewed here.

The NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship Meet will take place Saturday at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will serve as the host school.