FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2025
Contact: Samantha (Sunseri) McLaughlin | ssunseri@berkeley.edu
 
Alekna Appears On The Bowerman Watch List For 22nd Time
World Record-Holder Honored More Than Any Thrower In History
 
California track & field's Mykolas Alekna, the discus world record-holder and reigning ACC Champion, added another accolade to his historic career as he earned his 22nd appearance on The Bowerman Watch List on Thursday. Alekna is now in sole possession of the third-most appearances all time and the most by any thrower. The Bowerman is the highest honor granted to a collegiate track & field athlete, celebrating the best man and woman of each season.
 
In addition to his latest world record of 75.56m (247-10), which he set at the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational in April after also breaking his own world record just a few throws earlier, Alekna's 2025 resume includes the No. 2 throw in collegiate history (71.29m/233-10 at the 130th Big Meet), the No. 5 throw in collegiate history (70.09m/229-11 at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational) and the No. 6 throw in collegiate history (69.86m/229-2), the latter of which he threw to win his first ACC title (and third-career conference title) as well as his 10th meet record and seventh facility record.
 
Ten men's semifinalists will be released June 26, which will be pared down to three finalists on July 1. Should Alekna remain in consideration, he would join Arizona State's Ryan Whiting (2010), UCLA's Julian Wruck (2013) and Arizona State's Turner Washington (2021) as the only male finalist throwers in history to do so; should he win, he would be the first thrower (male or female) to receive the award.
 
Three men on this week's Watch List – Alekna, Ole Miss's Tarik O'Hagan-Robinson and North Carolina's Ethan Strand – have appeared on every release of the Watch List this season.
 
The Bowerman Men's Watch List – Post-Outdoor Conference Championships
Mykolas Alekna, California (Discus)
Jordan Anthony, Arkansas (Sprints)
James Corrigan, BYU (Mid-Distance/Steeple)
Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor (Sprints/Hurdles)
Ishmael Kipkurui, New Mexico (Distance)
Liam Murphy, Villanova (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan, Ole Miss (Throws)
Habtom Samuel, New Mexico (Distance)
Ethan Strand, North Carolina (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Parker Wolfe, North Carolina (Distance)
 
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