Completed Event: Cross Country versus Cyclone Preview on August 29, 2025 , , Men: 1st, Women: 1st
Final
Cross Country
Cyclone Preview
Men: 1st, Women: 1st
Iowa State University Athletics
Photo by: Jeff Spaur
Kirwa Named Celia Barquin Arozamena Female Athlete of the Year
06.29.2026 | Cross Country, Track and Field
AMES, Iowa – Mercyline Kirwa is the 2025-26 Celia Barquin Arozamena Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year.
Kirwa, a freshman on the track and field/cross country teams, took the national title in the 10,000m and was the national runner-up in the 5,000m at 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The finishes combined for 18 points, the most individual points by any woman at the championship. Kirwa helped lead Iowa State to the best team finish at any NCAA Championship in program history as the Cyclones placed sixth with 30 points. It was the first top 10 team finish outdoors since 2010 and the fifth top 10 finish overall through indoor and outdoor championships.
In the 10,000m, Kirwa topped two-time NCAA champions and Bowerman Award nominees New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei and BYU's Jane Hedengren, the event in which Hedengren holds the all-time collegiate record.
Two days later Kirwa took silver in the 5,000m, crossing the finish line .71 seconds behind first. The distance star's time of 15:13.72 was an outdoor personal best that now ranks third on Iowa State's elite all-time list.
At 2026 Big 12 Championships, Kirwa took the outdoor 10,000m title and the indoor 5,000m title. Also in indoor season, Kirwa was one of 16 women to advance to NCAA Championships and earned Second Team All-America.
In addition to ranking third in the outdoor 5k at Iowa State, Kirwa ranks first in the indoor 5k, third in the 10k, fourth in the 3k and sixth in the mile.
On the cross country course, the Cyclone picked up All-Big 12 honors and a Big 12 Runner of the Week nod in the 2025 season.
Kirwa ends her freshman campaign as a three-time All-American. Two-time Big 12 champion and the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year.
A women's track and field athlete has now won the award three years in a row.
Celia Barquin Arozamena Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year Winners
1980 – Mary Seybold – Track & Field
1981 – Debbie Vetter – Track & Field
1982 – Annette Ackerson – Swimming
1983 – Tanya Roach – Swimming
1984 – Diane Doles – Volleyball
1985 – Tonya Burns – Basketball
1986 – Jane Lobenstein – Basketball
1987 – Nawal El Moutawakel – Track & Field
1988 – Linda Evans – Volleyball
1989 – Carmen Jaspers – Basketball
1990 – Jennie Condon – Softball
1991 – Jennifer Adams-Keitges – Swimming
1992 – Edith Nakiyingi – Track & Field
1993 – Karen Glerum – Track & Field
1994 – Melanie Young – Basketball
1995 – Kary Law – Volleyball
1996 – Beth Bader – Golf
1997 – Kim Mazza – Gymnastics
1998 – Stacy Frese – Basketball
1999 – Stacy Frese – Basketball
2000 – Stacy Frese – Basketball
2001 – Megan Taylor – Basketball
2002 – Angie Welle – Basketball
Gina Curtis-Rickert – Track & Field
2003 – Gina Curtis-Rickert – Track & Field
2004 – Janet Anson – Gymnastics
2005 – Anne O'Neil – Basketball
2006 – Janet Anson – Gymnastics
2007 – Lyndsey Medders – Basketball
2008 – Lisa Koll – Track/Cross Country
2009 – Kaylee Manns – Volleyball
2010 – Lisa Koll – Track/Cross Country
2011 – Kelsey Bolte – Basketball
2012 – Betsy Saina – Track/Cross Country
2013 – Betsy Saina – Track/Cross Country
2014 – Christina Hillman – Track & Field
2015 – Chonlada Chayanun – Golf
2016 – Caitlin Nolan – Volleyball
2017 – Jhoanmy Luque – Track & Field
2018 – Celia Barquin Arozamena – Golf
2019 – Bridget Carleton – Basketball
2020 – Callie Logue – Track/Cross Country
2021 – Sami Williams – Softball
2022 – Ashley Joens – Basketball
2023 – Ashley Joens – Basketball
2024 – Sydney Willits – Track & Field
2025 – Rachel Joseph – Track & Field
2026 – Mercyline Kirwa – Track/Cross Country
Players Mentioned
Monday, November 11
Tuesday, November 14
Monday, October 31
Monday, November 01
