Alekna Named To The Bowerman Watch List For 21st Time

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Alekna has thrown over 70 meters in every meet this season and remains undefeated.

T&F5/8/2025 1:16 PM | By: Cal Athletics

World Record-Holder Tied For Third-Most Appearances In History

California track & field’s Mykolas Alekna, who shattered his own discus world record earlier this season, has been named to The Bowerman Watch List for the 21st time in his career. Alekna, a two-time semifinalist for the award that honors the best men’s and women’s athletes in collegiate track & field, is now tied with South Dakota’s Chris Nilsen (grad. 2020) and Texas’s Ryan Crouser (grad. 2016) for the third-most appearances on the men’s watch list in history.
 
Alekna, the reigning Olympic silver medalist, opened his season at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational on April 5 with a then-ACC record mark of 70.09m (229-11). He followed that up with a trip to Ramona, Oklahoma, on April 13, where he surpassed his own world record twice on the way to a final result of 75.56m (247-10). Alekna then returned to Edwards Stadium for The 130th Big Meet last SaturdayMay 3, throwing a meet-record 71.29m (233-10).
 
Four men  – Alekna, O’Hagan-Robinson, North Carolina’s Ethan Strand and Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp – have appeared on every iteration of the watch list this season.
 
The men’s semifinalists will be announced June 26 while the finalists will be revealed July 1. Only three male throwers in history (Arizona State’s Ryan Whiting, 2010; UCLA’s Julian Wruck, 2013; Arizona State’s Turner Washington, 2021) have reached finalist status for The Bowerman. Should Alekna join that group, he would have the opportunity to become the first thrower in history – male or female – to win the award.
 

The voting period for The Bowerman will open after the finalists are released. The Bowerman voters consist of various national and regional media personnel, track & field statisticians, NCAA administrators, previous winners and presidents of affiliated organizations. Additionally, members of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) collectively receive one vote, as do fans. Votes will be calculated in ranked-choice fashion, with the award being presented in December at the annual USTFCCCA Convention.
 
The Bowerman Men’s Watch List – Pre-Outdoor Conference Championships
Mykolas Alekna, California (Discus)
Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor (Sprints/Hurdles)
Ishmael Kipkurui, New Mexico (Distance)
Geoffrey Kirwa, Louisville (Steeple/Distance)
Angelos Mantzouranis, Minnesota (Hammer/Throws)
Liam Murphy, Villanova (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Tarik O’Hagan-Robinson, Ole Miss (Throws)
Habtom Samuel, New Mexico (Distance)
Ethan Strand, North Carolina (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Ja’Kobe Tharp, Auburn (Hurdles)
 
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