Denisha Cartwright, a sophomore from Minnesota State University, was named the DII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Track & Field as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Cartwright is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 46th year.

Hailing from Nassau, Bahamas, Cartwright was most recently named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) DII Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year.

The sophomore captured four First Team All-America honors at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field championships behind NCAA Championship victories in the 100-meter hurdles and the 4x100 relay. She added a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters and a seventh-place finish in the 100 meters.

 Earlier in the season, Cartwright was named the NSIC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year after claiming four NSIC honors at the NSIC Championships, including first place finishes in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100 relay. On the season, she was named the NSIC Track Athlete of the Week four times.

“During Denisha’s time at Minnesota State she has increased the national level of our sprints/hurdles squad,” stated Director of Track &Field/Cross Country Mike Turgeon. “She works tirelessly at being a better hurdler. Denisha is a teammate that leads by example and who her teammates count on during the championship season to lead our track and field team. We are very proud of Denisha for being named a DII Honda Athlete of the Year Finalist.”

All Honda Sports nominees from DII and DIII become a finalist for the prestigious 2022 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27, 2022, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Award finalists are recognized in 11 DII and DIII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

The CWSA, entering its 46th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.  

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/.