Wheaton, Ill. –  Wheaton sophomore Hannah Roeske has been named the 2018 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Region Athlete of the Year. Roeske is the first member of the Wheaton women's cross country program to earn the award since the USTFCCCA began presenting it in 2003. Additionally, she is the first runner from a CCIW women's cross country team to win the award.

Roeske earned the recognition behind her effort last week in winning NCAA Division III Midwest Regional in Colfax, Wisconsin. She won the event in cold conditions with a first-place time of 21:21.8 on the 6K course. Roeske, a two-time CCIW Cross Country Champion, earned All-American honors last year at the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championships with a time of 21:15.30 to finish 21st in the 279-woman field.

Roeske and the Thunder women's cross country team will compete in the 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championships this Saturday in Wineconne, Wisconsin. The women's race begins at 11:15 a.m. (CST). Video of Saturday's championships will be available at this LINK and results will be HERE.