CANTON, Ga. -- University of Chicago track and field standout Ren Brown has been named the D3CA Region II Women's Athlete of the Year, as announced by the Division III Commissioners Association on Wednesday morning.

Brown concluded her career as one of the most decorated athletes in UChicago history. A two-time NCAA national champion, she captured titles in the Indoor Distance Medley Relay and the Outdoor 400-meter hurdles. Over the course of her career, she earned 10 All-American honors, including eight First-Team selections, and was a 19-time All-Region performer. Brown also etched her name into the UChicago record books by setting six school records and ranking among the program's top-10 performers in 18 different events. Her school record of 57.85 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2024 Billy Hayes Invitational broke the NCAA Division III all-time mark and met the U.S. Olympic qualifying standard.

The 2025 outdoor season capped her dominance on the track. Brown won the NCAA title in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.55 seconds—the sixth-fastest performance in championship history—and added a runner-up finish in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.77 seconds. For her achievements, she was named the UAA Outdoor Most Outstanding Performer in Running Events and the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Track Athlete of the Year.

Brown's excellence extended beyond athletics. A psychology major from Naples, Florida, she was recognized as a 2nd-Team CSC Academic All-American in 2025, highlighting her success in the classroom alongside her competitive achievements.

The D3CA, founded in 1992, provides a collaborative network for Division III commissioners to share knowledge, resources, and best practices. Working alongside organizations such as the NCAA and NACDA, the association is dedicated to enhancing the student-athlete experience through innovation and collective leadership.

With her selection as the Region II Women's Athlete of the Year, Brown advances as a finalist for the National D3CA Women's Athlete of the Year Award, which will be announced later this year. Other national finalists include:

• Hope Shue (Women's Lacrosse – Middlebury)

• Megan Bell (Track & Field – Rochester)

• Medelyn Lehigh (Softball – Penn State-Harrisburg)

• Michaela O'Neil (Women's Basketball – Johns Hopkins)

• Grace Walker (Women's Golf – Centre)

• Mary Mason (Cross Country/Track & Field – Mount Union)

• Lauren Huber (Women's Basketball – Illinois Wesleyan)

• Hailey Gregg (Track & Field – Bethel-MN)

• Ella Brissett (Women's Tennis – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps)