Doris Lemngole, a junior from the University of Alabama, has been named the Honda Sport Award winner for Cross Country for the second straight year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. For five decades, the Honda Sport Award has honored the nation’s top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, symbolizing “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” Lemngole is now a finalist for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and Class of 2026 Honda Cup, to be presented live on Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

Lemngole was selected via a nationwide vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. The other finalists for this year’s award were Riley Chamberlain (BYU), Jane Hedengren (BYU) and Hilda Olemomoi (Florida).

“It means so much to me to be recognized by the CWSA and Honda again, for another year,” said Lemngole. “I’m very grateful for the people who continue to support me like my teammates and my coaches. The University of Alabama and our support staff have helped me so much, and I want to thank them for everything they do for me. Coming to Alabama has been a blessing, and receiving this award for a second straight year is something I don’t take lightly. I’m excited to keep working hard and to share another great season with my team.”

Lemngole has established herself as one of the most dominant distance runners in collegiate history. A back-to-back Honda Sport Award winner and three-time finalist for Cross Country, Lemngole successfully defended her NCAA Cross Country individual title in both 2024 and 2025 after finishing as national runner-up in 2023. Her repeat victory made her the first woman in 14 years to claim consecutive national championships.

Lemngole is a two-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Women’s Athlete of the Year and has twice been named both the SEC Women’s Runner of the Year and NCAA South Region Athlete of the Year. A three-time USTFCCCA All-American and three-time First Team All-SEC selection, she claimed her second SEC individual title and South Regional crown this past fall.

Including indoor and outdoor track & field competition, she is a five-time national champion and eight-time All-American as well as a two-time semifinalist and 2025 finalist for The Bowerman.

Equally impressive in the classroom, Lemngole is a two-time SEC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a USTFCCCA Academic All-American.

“We are thrilled for Doris and everything this recognition represents,” said head coach Dan Waters. “Earning the Honda Sport Award for Cross Country for a second straight year is a remarkable accomplishment, something that’s never been done here at Alabama, and speaks directly to her character and her relentless work ethic. Doris embodies everything we value in this program, humility, drive and a commitment to excellence in every area of her life. While having another Honda Award winner in our program’s history is something we take pride in, what matters most is what this moment means for Doris and the example she continues to set.”

As the CWSA marks its 50th anniversary, the organization continues its longstanding mission to honor excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since 1986, Honda has contributed more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to support women’s athletics programs nationwide.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation 

For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.  

Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.