Tracy Partain, a senior on the Missouri State track and field team, was selected by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as the Midwest District Athlete of the Year. Six winners, including men's and women's coach, men's and women's track athlete, and men's and women's field athlete, were selected in each of the nine districts. Division I coaches nominated and selected the winners.

Partain won the outdoor Missouri Valley Conference heptathlon with a score of 5,756 points, ranking her third in the nation entering the NCAA Championship meet. Her score also set a MSU varsity record. Partain also won the 100-meter hurdles at the 2006 outdoor Valley meet with a time of 13.38 and set a university record in the event.

The Springfield, Mo., native will compete in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championship on Friday through Saturday, June 9-10, in Sacramento, Calif.