Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point Women’s Cross Country Garners Academic Honors
January 29, 2026 | Women's Cross Country
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point women's cross country team was named an All-Academic Team, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced on Thursday afternoon. In addition, Charlotte Richman, Claire Lewis and Mikayla Cheney were named All-Academic Athletes.
Army is coming off one of its most impressive seasons in program history, that resulted in a third consecutive Patriot League Championship and a third-place finish in the NCAA Northeast Region.
The team finished with a 3.12 cumulative GPA.
Richman, a senior Engineering Psychology major from Portland, Ore., had a historic season for the Black Knights. She took home first place at the NCAA Northeast Region, won the Patriot League Individual Championship and won the Army-Navy Star Meet. Her times at all the events were blistering paces, which included the program's fastest 6K time (19:52.8) at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship. Richman was named the USTFCCCA Northeast Region Athlete of the Year.
Lewis, the senior captain from Huntington Beach, Calif., is a Chemical Engineering major. This season, Lewis recorded a personal-best time in the 6K (20:23.1) in the Army-Navy Star Meet. She also finished eighth in the Patriot League Championship and 23rd in the NCAA Northeast Region.
Cheney, an engineering psychology junior from New Castle, Colo., impressed all season. She finished third in the Army-Navy Star Meet and in the Patriot League Championship. She capped off her season with an 18th-place finish in the NCAA Northeast Region. Her time in the Star Meet (20:14.6) was a personal best.
Quotable – Director of Cross Country Mike Smith
"The 2025 cross country season stands as the greatest in the history of our program, and that success was fueled by the remarkable performances of our upper-class women. Mikayla Cheney '27, Charlotte Richman '26, and Claire Lewis '26 led us through every championship meet, setting the competitive tone for the entire team.
It's no surprise that these same women are now being recognized for their academic excellence. At the Academy, excellence is expected across academics, athletics, and character—and they embody all three every single day. I see their work ethic, their leadership, and their integrity up close, so I know exactly what they represent. These national honors simply confirm what I witness daily.
I admit I tend to gush when talking about them, but that's because what they accomplished this fall—and what they will continue to accomplish on the track this winter and spring—is without precedent. This is a moment worth celebrating. They are stars in every arena they enter.
Just watch."
All three athletes are competing in the indoor track and field season for Army and are back in action this Friday and Saturday in the Penn State National Invite.
Army is coming off one of its most impressive seasons in program history, that resulted in a third consecutive Patriot League Championship and a third-place finish in the NCAA Northeast Region.
The team finished with a 3.12 cumulative GPA.
Richman, a senior Engineering Psychology major from Portland, Ore., had a historic season for the Black Knights. She took home first place at the NCAA Northeast Region, won the Patriot League Individual Championship and won the Army-Navy Star Meet. Her times at all the events were blistering paces, which included the program's fastest 6K time (19:52.8) at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship. Richman was named the USTFCCCA Northeast Region Athlete of the Year.
Lewis, the senior captain from Huntington Beach, Calif., is a Chemical Engineering major. This season, Lewis recorded a personal-best time in the 6K (20:23.1) in the Army-Navy Star Meet. She also finished eighth in the Patriot League Championship and 23rd in the NCAA Northeast Region.
Cheney, an engineering psychology junior from New Castle, Colo., impressed all season. She finished third in the Army-Navy Star Meet and in the Patriot League Championship. She capped off her season with an 18th-place finish in the NCAA Northeast Region. Her time in the Star Meet (20:14.6) was a personal best.
Quotable – Director of Cross Country Mike Smith
"The 2025 cross country season stands as the greatest in the history of our program, and that success was fueled by the remarkable performances of our upper-class women. Mikayla Cheney '27, Charlotte Richman '26, and Claire Lewis '26 led us through every championship meet, setting the competitive tone for the entire team.
It's no surprise that these same women are now being recognized for their academic excellence. At the Academy, excellence is expected across academics, athletics, and character—and they embody all three every single day. I see their work ethic, their leadership, and their integrity up close, so I know exactly what they represent. These national honors simply confirm what I witness daily.
I admit I tend to gush when talking about them, but that's because what they accomplished this fall—and what they will continue to accomplish on the track this winter and spring—is without precedent. This is a moment worth celebrating. They are stars in every arena they enter.
Just watch."
All three athletes are competing in the indoor track and field season for Army and are back in action this Friday and Saturday in the Penn State National Invite.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Army vs. Bucknell Women's Basketball Game Highlights
Thursday, January 22
2026 West Point Open (Army Spotlight)
Saturday, January 17
Army Women's Basketball Ericson Feature
Friday, January 02
Wasabi Fenway Bowl Game Highlights
Saturday, December 27