CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi College senior Lauren Wallace has been named the NCAA Division II South Region Female Runner of the Year following a dominant and historic 2025 campaign that solidified her place among the nation's top distance runners.

Wallace captured the individual title at the NCAA DII South Regional Championships, becoming the first women's runner in school history to win a regional crown. She crossed the line in 21 minutes, 18.27 seconds, pulling away over the final two miles to win by nearly five seconds and secure an automatic berth to nationals.

Her regional victory capped a standout season that included a second-place finish at the Watson Collegiate Classic, a third-place performance at The Opener, and a fourth-place showing at the Gulf South Conference Championships.

Wallace also helped Mississippi College make program history as she and teammate Taylor Benoit became the first pair of women's runners to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships in the same season. Benoit earned her spot with a seventh-place regional finish in 21:46.72, securing an individual at-large selection.

Wallace and Benoit will represent Mississippi College at the NCAA Division II National Championships on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin.