NEW ORLEANS, La. - Trinity University junior standout Caitlin Masse and Rhodes College head cross country coach Robert Shankman were named United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association regional athlete and coach of the year, respectively.

Masse of Katy, Texas won the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Region Women's Cross Country Championship Saturday by 30 seconds over the nearest competitor on the muddy course. She captured the 6K regional race with a time of 22:56 and qualified for the 2009 NCAA Championship meet on November 21. Masse earned USTFCCCA South/Southeast All-Region honors following her course-breaking time on the Guilford College route.

Led by team captain Cybil Covic’s 2nd place overall finish, Shankman's Rhodes women's cross country team captured its first-ever NCAA Division III South/Southeast Region team championship. The Lynx dominated the race, scoring 35 points and placing four runners among the top eight finishers, all of whom earned USTFCCCA South/Southeast All-Region honors. After finishing third last year at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships, the Rhodes Lynx finished second in 2009, just two points behind conference champion DePauw University.

For the complete USTFCCCA release, click here.