Governor Cooper Honors NC State Women's Cross Country Team, the 2021 NCAA National Champions | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    RALEIGH: Today, Governor Roy Cooper honored the North Carolina State University Women's Cross Country Team for winning the 2021 NCAA Women's Cross Country National Championship. This is the first NCAA National Championship for any NC State team since 1983.

    "The real strength of the wolf depends on the pack, and we can see that here," Governor Cooper said. "This team worked together to make history, bringing home the national title for this great university."

    "What NC State's Women's Cross Country team has accomplished in recent years is truly incredible. They have excelled in the classroom and in competition," Chancellor Randy Woodson said. "We are proud to have such motivated student-athletes and coaching staff as part of the Wolfpack."

    "We are grateful to Governor Cooper and his staff for the invitation to recognize our program for winning the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championship," Coach Laurie Henes said. "These women are remarkable athletes, students, and role models. Their hard work and dedication to each other allowed them to bring the first NCAA team title since 1983 back to NC State. We are so proud that they represent our university, the state of North Carolina, and our community. Thank you to Governor Cooper for this special opportunity to be honored here at the Governor's mansion."

    At the event, the Governor signed a proclamation proclaiming November 2 as a day in recognition of the 2021 NC State Women's Cross Country Team. Event attendees included the 2021 NC State Women's Cross Country Team, NC State Chancellor Dr. Randy Woodson, NC State Cross Country Team Head Coach Laurie Henes, NC State Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan and high school cross country teams from across the state.

    Coach Henes has been named the ACC Coach of the Year seven times. In 2021, she was named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. She won the 1991 NCAA 5,000-meter track and field championship her senior year of college at NC State and continued in international racing, competing in the World University Games in 1993, for the USA Track and Field team at the 1995 World Championships and at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1996.

    This is the NC State Women's Cross Country team's first national title. All five of the scoring cross country winners during the championship were named All-American Runners.


    Contact: Mary Scott Winstead

    Phone: (919) 814-2100  •      Email: govpress@nc.gov