CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference has nominated Miami’s Lauryn Harris (Track and Field) and NC State’s Kelsey Chmiel (Cross Country/Track and Field) for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The NCAA Woman of the Year award established in 1991 honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
“We are proud to recognize each of the incredible women that were nominated for this year’s NCAA Woman of the Year,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “We are honored as a league to have Kelsey and Lauryn represent the ACC and the best in college athletics who are thriving not only in the classroom, but also in athletics and their communities.”
Harris graduated from Miami with Magna Cum Laude status with Departmental Honors in Political Science as well as the Inaugural 2023 Ibis Award, the highest student-athlete honor given for accomplishments not only in competition, but in the community and classroom. She has recorded six straight semesters with a perfect GPA.
Following her athletic and academic performance over the 2022-23 season, she was named to the 2023 Outdoor All-ACC Academic Team, one of three student-athletes at Miami named to the 2022-23 College Sport Communicators Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country Teams. The Hurricanes took third place at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
In the community, Harris is a member of Miami’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the co-president of UM’s Black Student-Athlete Alliance and the 2022 ACC Unite Award winner. As co-president, she helped to execute programming, including a mental health roundtable discussion and the Second Annual Black Networking Event, and promoting core values of community, development, and health. The hurdler and jumper for the Hurricanes also participated in the Miami Track and Field Police Athletic League (PAL) Clinic, which gives track and field student-athletes the opportunity to interact with local youth and give back to the community.
The former volunteer at the Voice In Sport Foundation worked from 2021-2022 on the national level to expose the gender inequalities within athletics and urge lawmakers to pass more equitable legislation alongside other women athletes to conduct in-depth Title IX research and conversations with Congressmen. Combining her passion for athletics and politics, she was able to help create change that will improve the lives of future women athletes.
In 2022, the Cheltenham, Maryland, native was a part of the Hurricanes’ ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championship team where she earned All-ACC Second Team honors for her performances in the 100m hurdles and the long jump. Harris was also a member of the 2022 and 2023 Indoor and Outdoor All-ACC Academic Teams.