The 2026 Bowerman Watch List for men's and women's NCAA track and field

It's time for a look at potential winners of the Bowerman, an annual award presented to the most outstanding athletes in collegiate track and field.

Here's the latest on some of the best in DI track and field.

THE BOWERMAN:

Watch lists from the season

Check out every 2026 watch list below.

Watch list update No. 5

The fifth update of the season and second of the outdoor season for the women's watch list was announced on Wednesday, May 20, with the men's update announced on Thursday, May 21.

*Watch list career debut

The following athletes received votes:

• Women
  • Gladys Chepngetich, Clemson (Mid-Distance)
  • Alyssa Jones, Stanford (Jumps/Sprints)
  • Rosemary Longisa, Washington State (Distance)
  • Aaliyah McCormick, Oregon (Hurdles)
  • Alida van Daalen, Florida (Throws)
  • Madison Whyte, Southern California (Sprints)
• Men
  • Kayinsola Ajayi, Auburn (Sprints)
  • Peyton Bair, Oregon (Combined Events)
  • Ryan Johnson, Iowa (Throws)
  • Garrett Kaalund, Southern California (Sprints)
  • Rivaldo Marshall, Arkansas (Mid-Distance)
  • Ralford Mullings, Oklahoma (Throws)
  • Jonathan Seremes, Texas Tech (Jumps)

PREDICTING: How the Bowerman watch lists predict the award's final winner

2026 watch list dates

Below you'll find all of the announced Bowerman watch list dates for 2026. 

All dates subject to change

PAST BOWERMANS: 2025 - Jordan Anthony | 2025 - Doris Lemngole | 2024 - Leo Neugebauer | 2024 - Parker Valby | 2023 - Jaydon Hibbert | 2023 - Julien Alfred | 2022 - Trey Cunningham | 2022 - Abby Steiner

Date of the winner of the Bowerman

The 2026 winners will be announced at the 2026 USTFCCCA convention from December 14-17 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

Past watch lists

Watch list update No. 4

The fourth update of the season and first of the outdoor season for the women's watch list was announced on Wednesday, Apr. 29, with the men's update announced on Thursday, Apr. 30.

*Watch list career debut

The following athletes received votes:

• Women
  • Salma Elbadra, South Carolina (Mid-Distance)
  • JaMeesia Ford, South Carolina (Sprints)
  • Alyssa Jones, Stanford (Jumps/Sprints)
  • Rosemary Longisa, Washington State
  • Aaliyah McCormick, Oregon (Hurdles)
  • Shenese Walker, Florida State (Sprints)
• Men
  • Jayden Davis, Arizona State (Sprints)
  • Ryan Johnson, Iowa (Throws)
  • Rivaldo Marshall, Arkansas (Mid-Distance)
  • Ralford Mullings, Oklahoma (Throws)
  • Chinecherem Nnamdi, Texas A&M (Javelin)
  • Jonathan Seremes, Texas Tech (Jumps)
  • Texas Tanner, Air Force (Throws)

Watch list update No. 3

The third update of the indoor season for the women's and men's watch list was announced on Thursday, Mar. 26.

*Watch list career debut

The following athletes received votes:

• Women
  • Sophia Beckmon, Illinois (Long Jump);
  • Alyssa Jones, Stanford (Jumps/Sprints);
  • Shenese Walker, Florida State (Sprints)
• Men
  • Jonathan Seremes, Texas Tech (Jumps)

Watch list update No. 2

The second update of the indoor season for the women's watch list was announced on Wednesday, Mar. 4, with the men's update announced on Thursday, Mar. 5. 

*Watch list career debut

The following athletes received votes:

• Women
  • Şilan Ayyildiz, Oregon (Mid-Distance)
  • Sophia Beckmon, Illinois (Long Jump)
  • Gladys Chepngetich, Clemson (Mid-Distance)
  • Adaejah Hodge, Georgia (Sprints)
  • Sanu Jallow-Lockhart, Arkansas (Mid-Distance)
  • Alyssa Jones, Stanford (Jumps/Sprints)
  • Hayley Kitching, Penn State (Mid-Distance)
  • Wilma Nielsen, Oregon (Mid-Distance)
• Men
  • Bradley Franklin, Samford (Hurdles)
  • Marco Langon, Villanova (Distance)
  • Gary Martin, Virginia (Mid-Distance/Distance)
  • Samuel Ogazi, Alabama (Sprints)
  • Jimmy Rhoads, Washington (Pole Vault)
  • Jonathan Seremes, Texas Tech (Jumps)
  • Ja’Kobe Tharp, Auburn (Hurdles)

Watch list update No. 1

The first update of the indoor season for the women's watch list was announced on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with the men's update announced on Thursday, Feb. 5. 

*Watch list career debut

The following athletes received votes:

• Women
  • Temitope Adeshina, Texas Tech (Jumps)
  • Şilan Ayyildiz, Oregon (Mid-Distance)
  • Gladys Chepngetich, Clemson (Mid-Distance)
  • Hayley Kitching, Penn State (Mid-Distance)
  • Alyssa Jones, Stanford (Jumps/Sprints)
• Men
  • James Corrigan, BYU (Mid-Distance/Steeple)
  • BJ Green, Oklahoma (Jumps)
  • Brian Musau, Oklahoma State (Distance)
  • Tarsis Orogot, Alabama (Sprints)
  • Jimmy Rhoads, Washington (Pole Vault)

Preseason watch list

The women's preseason watch list was announced on Wednesday, Jan. 7, with the men's preseason watch list announced on Thursday, Jan. 8. 

*Watch list career debut
+Returning semifinalist
#Returning finalist
! Returning winner

The following athletes received votes:

• Women
  • Valentina Barrios Bornacelli, Missouri (Javelin)
  • Indya Mayberry, TCU (Sprints)
  • Madison Whyte, Southern California (Sprints)
• Men
  • BJ Green, Oklahoma (Jumps)
  • T’Mars McCallum, Tennessee (Sprints)
  • Chinecherem Nnamdi, Texas A&M (Javelin)
  • Samuel Ogazi, Alabama (Sprints)
  • Tarsis Orogot, Alabama (Sprints)
  • Aleksandr Solovev, Texas A&M (Pole Vault)
  • JC Stevenson, Southern California (Sprints/Jumps)
  • Tyrice Taylor, Arkansas (Mid-Distance)

TRACK AND FIELD

🔥 B/R:  
🧠 WHAT TO KNOW: Comparing indoor and outdoor seasons | Wind and scoring explained | Greatest venues | Best uniforms

💥HISTORY: Programs with the most titles | Men's champ history | Women's champ history | Bowerman history | How the outdoor championships work