Tristian Spence, a junior from Adams State University, has been named a finalist in cross country for the DII Honda Athlete of the Year, as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. Spence is now among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II athletes across various sports. The DII Honda Athlete of the Year will be selected by senior women administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27th, at 7:00 pm ET, in New York City.

“I am so blessed,” stated Spence. “I am so grateful for all the opportunities running has given me, and I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for me in this journey. It is a great honor to be mentioned as a finalist for the Collegiate Women’s Division II Honda Athlete of the Year.”

Spence, a native of Grand Junction, Colo., claimed the 2025 NCAA DII Cross Country individual title with a decisive six-second win, helping lead Adams State to a fourth-place team finish. She is now a two-time national champion, adding the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field 5000m title to her résumé, and has been a key contributor to two Adams State national championship teams—the 2024 NCAA DII Cross Country Champions and the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Champions.

A two-time NCAA South Central Region Cross Country Champion, Spence is also a three-time USTFCCCA All-American in cross country and a six-time All-American across cross country and track & field.

“I'm so very proud of Tristian and her development,” stated head coach Damon Martin. “Tristian was never a state champion here in Colorado, so to see someone from our home state go on to win a national title means a great deal. What we're seeing from her is just the tip of the iceberg. She's really coming into her own and training well and she really put things together that day to have a tremendous performance. Very proud of her and her mental approach that day to execute the race that she did and we are very excited for her future.”

Now in its 50th year, the CWSA continues to honor the nation’s top female collegiate athletes for excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants, strengthening and advancing 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/.