Teammates Kesley Chmiel and Katelyn Tuohy from North Carolina State University, Elise Stearns from Northern Arizona University and the University of Florida’s Parker Valby  are the four finalists for the Class of 2023 Honda Sport Award for Cross Country as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today. 

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 47 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.  The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2023 Honda Cup which will be presented during the live telecast of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Presented by Honda on CBS Sports Network in June.

The cross country finalists were selected from the top finishes at the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Championship. The Honda Sport award winner for cross country will be announced later this week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.  

Chmiel, a junior from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., helped lead the Wolfpack to its second straight NCAA Championship title after finishing third at the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Championship. She had two runner-up finishes this season at the NCAA Regional Championship and the ACC Championship. She is an eight-time USTFCCCA All-American which includes her track & field performances.

Teammate, Tuohy, was the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Individual Champion after capturing both the NCAA Regional individual title and the ACC Championship title. The sophomore from Stony Point, N.Y., set a new course record en route to the ACC title and was a two-time USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week and ACC Performer of the Week this season. She now holds two NCAA Individual Championships after winning the 2022 NCAA 5,000m Outdoor title.

Stearns, a junior from Missoula, Mont., finished the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Championship in fourth place and led her team to a sixth-place finish, the second highest finish in school history. She earned USTFCCCA All-America honors for the first time in her career and captured the 2022 Big Sky Cross Country Individual Championship title. She ran her fastest 6k of the season finishing runner-up at the NCAA Mountain Regional.

Valby, the 2022 SEC Runner of the Year, was the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Individual Championship runner-up after leading the pack for most of the race. The sophomore from Tampa, Fla., is a two-time USTFCCCA All-American in Cross Country. This season, her accolades include the 2022 SEC Women’s Individual Championship and the 2022 NCAA South Regional Individual Championship.

The CWSA, entering its 47th 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 improving children’s health, inspiring underrepresented students, preserving the environment for future generations, creating safety for everyone, and strengthening our communities. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.