Doris Lemngole, a sophomore from the University of Alabama’s cross country team, has been named the Honda Sport Award winner for Cross Country, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 49 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, signifying “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The recipient of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2025 Honda Cup, which will be presented during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network in June, in New York City.

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 Amy Bunnage (Stanford), Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico), and Hilda Olemomoi (Florida).

"It is an honor to receive this award from the CWSA and Honda; it means a lot to me," stated Lemngole. "I want to give a special shoutout to my coaches, my teammates and everyone who has supported and believed in me. Our team’s support staff and The University of Alabama have also played a big role in helping me reach this success. Coming to Alabama has been a dream come true, and I am very grateful for all of the academic support I have received, in addition to the athletic support. I’m thankful for this honor, and I am just looking forward to another great season with my team, my coaches and my teammates.”

Lemngole, a two-time Honda Award finalist for Cross Country, earned the title of 2024 NCAA Cross Country Individual Champion after finishing as the runner-up in 2023. Hailing from West Pokot County, Kenya, she was recently named the 2024 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Women’s Athlete of the Year for Cross Country.

This season, Lemngole secured five individual victories in six races, including the SEC Championship individual title, further cementing her status as a dominant competitor. She is a two-time USTFCCCA All-American in Cross Country and a four-time All-American in track & field, in addition to being the 2024 NCAA National Champion in the outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Off the course, Lemngole excels academically as well. She is a USTFCCCA Academic All-American and was recognized as the 2024 SEC Cross Country Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

“We are all extremely proud of Doris," said head coach Dan Waters. "She represents the best of Alabama, and we are so excited for her to receive the Honda Sport Award for Cross Country. This is an award that represents the fierce and humble drive, and devoted dedication and tireless hard work that Doris uses to attack everything she does in life. Doris genuinely embodies the Honda Award’s core values as a student, as an athlete and as a person, most importantly. We are very proud to have now had two Honda Sport Award winners in our program’s history, but I’m more proud of what this means for Doris.”

The CWSA, now in its 49th year, continues to honor the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their exceptional athletic achievements, leadership, academic excellence, and dedication to community service. Since the inception of its partnership in 1986, Honda has contributed over $3.4 million in institutional grants to support women’s athletics programs at the universities of award winners and nominees.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility

For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.