New York ? Tara Kirk set the world record in the 100-meter breaststroke, swept four straight NCAA titles and became an Olympic favorite.

Still, when it came to the Stanford swimmer winning the Broderick Cup as the nation’s collegiate woman athlete of the year, her mother was concerned about the competition.

“We watched the women’s Final Four and saw Diana Taurasi. She was outstanding. When Tara told us that she’d won, we were like, ‘Really?’ We were surprised,” Margaret Kirk said.

With her parents watching, Kirk accepted the Broderick Cup in ceremonies Monday at Columbia University.

Kirk credited her teammates and competitors for making her better and thanked her mom and dad for years of their daily ritual of “up at 5 a.m., driving me to swim practice.”

Kirk will turn 22 next month, during the U.S. Olympic team trials. She hopes to go to Athens in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events and already has committed to training for the 2008 Beijing Games.

“I’m excited to race with some fast girls,” she said. “It will take an American record to make the team.”

Kirk was among five finalists, a group that included North Carolina soccer standout Catherine Reddick, Florida State softball player Jessica van der Linden, Southern California volleyball star April Ross and Taurasi, who led Connecticut to three straight national championships.

Taurasi was declared ineligible for the honor and received no votes because rules call for the winner to attend the trophy presentation. She declined to travel to New York.

Tara Kirk, right, a standout swimmer from Stanford, is presented the Broderick Cup after she was named collegiate woman athlete of the year. Women's basketball pioneer Ann Meyers, left, presented the award Monday in New York.

Mary Ellen Gordon, who won the singles and doubles national tennis titles at Emory, was chosen as the Division III athlete of the year.

“I’m looking for a job right now,” she said. “As far as competitive tennis, I think I’m done.”

Chanda Gunn, who overcame epilepsy to become a star goaltender on Northeastern’s hockey team, won the Inspiration Award, sponsored by Honda.

Distance runner Zoila Gomez of Adams State College, was the Division II winner. Born in Mexico and one of 16 children, her father died when she was 6.

Now 25, she’s had a busy year. She cared for a younger sister, prepared to become an American citizen and get her degree, and won Division II crowns in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters outdoors and 5,000 indoors.