Brigham Young University teammates Riley Chamberlain and Jane Hedengren, Doris Lemngole of the University of Alabama, and the University of Florida’s Hilda Olemomoi have been announced as the four finalists for the Class of 2026 Honda Sport Award for Cross Country, as revealed 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.” The recipient will become a finalist for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the Class of 2026 Honda Cup, to be presented live on Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

The cross country finalists were selected based on top performances at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championship. Voting for the Honda Sport Award for Cross Country is conducted by senior women administrators from more than 1,000 NCAA member institutions.

Riley Chamberlain (Loomis, Calif.) capped her senior season with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championship, helping lead BYU to a national runner-up finish. The two-time USTFCCCA All-American placed in the top three of every regular-season race and earned runner-up honors at both the NCAA Mountain Regional and Big 12 Championship, contributing to the Cougars’ team title.

Jane Hedengren, a freshman from Provo, Utah, delivered a breakthrough season, finishing as national runner-up at the NCAA Championship and propelling BYU to its team runner-up result. She won both the NCAA Mountain Regional and Big 12 Championship, setting a Big 12 6k course record, and recorded two additional course records this year.

Doris Lemngole (West Pokot County, Kenya), a junior at Alabama, secured her second consecutive NCAA individual title, becoming the first woman in 14 years to repeat as champion. The reigning Honda Sport Award winner for Cross Country, she is a three-time finalist, a two-time USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year, and a three-time All-American.

Hilda Olemomoi, a senior from Trans-Mara, Kenya, earned her third straight top-five finish at the NCAA Championship with a third-place showing. A three-time Honda Award finalist and 10-time USTFCCCA All-American across cross country and track, she is also a four-time First Team All-Conference performer and two-time SEC track champion.

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/.