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NCAA Champion Nabwe Included on Latest 'The Bowerman' Watch List
3/25/2026 2:55:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
The Bowerman is an annual award that is the highest accolade given to the best student-athlete in NCAA track and field.
MINNEAPOLIS -- University of Minnesota women's track and field redshirt junior Anthonett Nabwe has been recognized as one of 10 student-athletes on the Women's 2026 Update No. 3 Watch List for The Bowerman, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday. The honor for the Liberian thrower is just the second Golden Gopher woman to be featured on any 'The Bowerman' Watch List.
The award considers athletes' performances during the NCAA indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons with the performance window running from December 1 of the preceding year through the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the year in which the award is given.
Nabwe becomes the first Gopher since 2010 (Alicia Rue) to be named to 'The Bowerman' Watch List. Just 12 days ago Nabwe made history at the NCAA Indoor Championships becoming the weight throw national champion with a toss of 25.13m (82-5 1/2) in Fayetteville, Ark., at Randal Tyson Track Center. The two-time Big Ten weight throw champion became the second Gopher to win an NCAA title in the weight throw, joining Kaitlyn Long in 2018. Nabwe's weight throw moved her to No. 3 all-time in the event, and was the best throw by a collegiate woman since 2022 (Shey Taiwo, Ole Miss). Nabwe currently owns the all-time Big Ten record in the weight throw, Minnesota's school record and is now a four-time indoor All-American between the weight throw and shot put.
The full list of names on the Women's 2026 Update No. 3 Watch List can be found below. The next watch list for the women is scheduled to be released on April 29 (mid-outdoor).
THE BOWERMAN – WOMEN'S 2026 UPDATE NO. 3 WATCH LIST (March 25, 2026)
*Anthonett Nabwe, Minnesota (Throws)
Temitope Adeshina, Texas Tech (High Jump)
*Gladys Chepngetich, Clemson (Mid-Distance)
Jane Hedengren, BYU (Distance)
*Adaejah Hodge, Georgia (Sprints)
Axelina Johansson, Nebraska (Throws)
Doris Lemngole, Alabama (Distance)
*Aaliyah McCormick, Oregon (Hurdles)
Hana Moll, Washington (Pole Vault)
Wilma Nielsen, Oregon (Mid-Distance)
* making watch list career debuts
Also receiving votes:
Sophia Beckmon, Illinois (Long Jump)
Alyssa Jones, Stanford (Jumps/Sprints)
Shenese Walker, Florida State (Sprints)
ABOUT THE BOWERMAN
The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009 and is named after former University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female athlete in NCAA and NAIA track & field.
The first two winners of the Bowerman were Jenny (Barringer) Simpson and Galen Rupp, whose careers combined for three Olympic and three World Championships medals, including a gold in the Worlds by Simpson.
Past winners also include six Olympic gold medalists in individual events: two-time decathlon gold medalist Ashton Eaton (2010), 2016 high jump gold medalist Derek Drouin (2013), 2016 100-meter hurdle gold medalist Brianna Rollins (2013), 2021 800-meter gold medalist Athing Mu (2021), 2024 110-meter hurdle gold medalist Grant Holloway (2019), and 2024 100-meter gold medalist Julien Alfred (2024).
As of November 2025, winners of The Bowerman have earned 22 Olympic medals – including 11 gold medals – 27 World Championship titles, 45 total World Championship medals, and three have set World Records.
Bill Bowerman served the sport of track & field in numerous ways. His leadership as president of the USTFCCCA's predecessor organization, the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track & field and the running community as a whole are among his many lasting legacies.
For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the trophy and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
The award considers athletes' performances during the NCAA indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons with the performance window running from December 1 of the preceding year through the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the year in which the award is given.
Nabwe becomes the first Gopher since 2010 (Alicia Rue) to be named to 'The Bowerman' Watch List. Just 12 days ago Nabwe made history at the NCAA Indoor Championships becoming the weight throw national champion with a toss of 25.13m (82-5 1/2) in Fayetteville, Ark., at Randal Tyson Track Center. The two-time Big Ten weight throw champion became the second Gopher to win an NCAA title in the weight throw, joining Kaitlyn Long in 2018. Nabwe's weight throw moved her to No. 3 all-time in the event, and was the best throw by a collegiate woman since 2022 (Shey Taiwo, Ole Miss). Nabwe currently owns the all-time Big Ten record in the weight throw, Minnesota's school record and is now a four-time indoor All-American between the weight throw and shot put.
The full list of names on the Women's 2026 Update No. 3 Watch List can be found below. The next watch list for the women is scheduled to be released on April 29 (mid-outdoor).
THE BOWERMAN – WOMEN'S 2026 UPDATE NO. 3 WATCH LIST (March 25, 2026)
*Anthonett Nabwe, Minnesota (Throws)
Temitope Adeshina, Texas Tech (High Jump)
*Gladys Chepngetich, Clemson (Mid-Distance)
Jane Hedengren, BYU (Distance)
*Adaejah Hodge, Georgia (Sprints)
Axelina Johansson, Nebraska (Throws)
Doris Lemngole, Alabama (Distance)
*Aaliyah McCormick, Oregon (Hurdles)
Hana Moll, Washington (Pole Vault)
Wilma Nielsen, Oregon (Mid-Distance)
* making watch list career debuts
Also receiving votes:
Sophia Beckmon, Illinois (Long Jump)
Alyssa Jones, Stanford (Jumps/Sprints)
Shenese Walker, Florida State (Sprints)
ABOUT THE BOWERMAN
The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009 and is named after former University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female athlete in NCAA and NAIA track & field.
The first two winners of the Bowerman were Jenny (Barringer) Simpson and Galen Rupp, whose careers combined for three Olympic and three World Championships medals, including a gold in the Worlds by Simpson.
Past winners also include six Olympic gold medalists in individual events: two-time decathlon gold medalist Ashton Eaton (2010), 2016 high jump gold medalist Derek Drouin (2013), 2016 100-meter hurdle gold medalist Brianna Rollins (2013), 2021 800-meter gold medalist Athing Mu (2021), 2024 110-meter hurdle gold medalist Grant Holloway (2019), and 2024 100-meter gold medalist Julien Alfred (2024).
As of November 2025, winners of The Bowerman have earned 22 Olympic medals – including 11 gold medals – 27 World Championship titles, 45 total World Championship medals, and three have set World Records.
Bill Bowerman served the sport of track & field in numerous ways. His leadership as president of the USTFCCCA's predecessor organization, the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track & field and the running community as a whole are among his many lasting legacies.
For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the trophy and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
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