Four swimmers have been nominated for the Honda Swimming & Diving Sports Award by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards, the organization announced today.
This winner of this honor, given out annually to the top athlete in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, will become a finalist for the prestigious 2015 Honda Cup.
The four finalists:
- Missy Franklin, Cal
- Simone Manuel, Stanford
- Leah Smith, Virginia
- Kelsi Worrell, Louisville
Each of the above swimmers won at least two individual NCAA titles, with Missy Franklin beating out runner-up Manuel in the 200 free to make herself the only nominee with three individual titles.
Manuel and Franklin each also added two relay titles to their tallies (Franklin’s Golden Bears won the 200 medley without her participation).
Among the four, three of the swimmers set NCAA, American, or U.S. Open Records as the fastest performances in history at any level. Franklin shattered her own 200 free record in 1:39.10, Manuel’s came in the form of 46.09 in the 100 yard free, and Worrell became the first woman ever under 50 seconds in the 100 fly with a 49.85 in prelims followed by a 49.81 in finals.
Showing what a huge turnover of talent there was since last year, none of these four women have been nominated for the award before.
Past Winners
* – went on to win the Honda Cup
| 2013-14 | Felicia Lee, Stanford University |
| 2012-13 | Allison Schmitt, University of Georgia |
| 2011-12 | Caitlin Leverenz, University of California |
| 2010-11 | Katinka Hosszu, University of Southern California |
| 2009-10 | Julia Smit, Stanford University |
| 2008-09 | Dana Vollmer, University of California |
| 2007-08 | Caroline Burckle, University of Florida |
| 2006-07 | Kara Lynn Joyce, University of Georgia |
| 2005-06 | Mary DeScenza, University of Georgia |
| 2004-05 | Kirsty Coventry, Auburn University |
| 2003-04 | Tara Kirk, Stanford University* |
| 2002-03 | Natalie Coughlin, University of California |
| 2001-02 | Natalie Coughlin, University of California |
| 2000-01 | Misty Hyman, Stanford University |
| 1999-00 | Cristina Teuscher, Columbia University* |
| 1998-99 | Martina Moravcova, Southern Methodist University |
| 1997-98 | Misty Hyman, Stanford University |
| 1996-97 | Kristine Quance, University of Southern California |
| 1995-96 | Kristine Quance, University of Southern California |
| 1994-95 | Jenny Thompson, Stanford University |
| 1993-94 | Nicole Haislette, University of Florida |
| 1992-93 | Janel Jorgensen, Stanford University |
| 1991-92 | Summer Sanders, Stanford University |
| 1990-91 | Leigh Ann Fetter, University of Texas |
| 1989-90 | Janet Evans, Stanford University |
| 1988-89 | Jenna Johnson, Stanford University |
| 1987-88 | Betsy Mitchell, University of Texas |
| 1986-87 | Mary T. Meagher, University of California* |
| 1985-86 | Jenna Johnson, Stanford University |
| 1984-85 | Mary T. Meagher, University of California |
| 1983-84 | Tracy Caulkins, University of Florida* |
| 1982-83 | Tracy Caulkins, University of Florida |
| 1981-82 | Tracy Caulkins, University of Florida* |
| 1980-81 | Jill Sterkel, University of Texas* |
| 1979-80 | Jill Sterkel, University of Texas |
| 1978-79 | Joan Pennington, University of Texas |
| 1977-78 | Renee Laravie, University of Florida |
| 1976-77 | Melissa Belote, Arizona State University |