California track & field alumnus Mykolas Alekna, who was honored with his second U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) West Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year last week, was named a semifinalist for The Bowerman on Thursday. The award recognizes the top men's and women's collegiate track & field athlete each year. Ten men's and 10 women's semifinalists were determined by consensus from The Bowerman Advisory Board, which will select three from each list to advance to finalist status.
 
Alekna, who was also a semifinalist in 2022 and 2023, is the third man to be named a three-time semifinalist, joining Oregon's Edward Cheserek (four times, 2014-17) and Florida's Grant Holloway (three times, 2017-19); he is also the only multiple-time semifinalist on the men's side this season. He is just the fourth man to appear on The Bowerman Watch List in four different calendar years (Cheserek; Chris Nilsen – South Dakota; Ryan Crouser - Texas). Alekna's 23 total appearances on the watch list stand at third most in men's history, behind only Cheserek (29) and Arizona's Lawi Lalang (24).
 
Alekna's 2025 collegiate campaign featured the shattering of his own world record as he became the first man in history to surpass 75 meters in the discus (75.56m/247-10) at the Oklahoma Throws World Invitational in Ramona, Oklahoma. He also set four meet records and three facility records, with four total outings of over 70 meters, on his way to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. Alekna was twice named the USTFCCCA Division I National Men's Athlete of the Week as well as ACC Men's Field Athlete of the Week.
 
Women's finalists will be announced July 7, while men's finalists will be announced July 8. An online fan voting period will be open from July 8-10.
 
The Bowerman – Men's Semifinalists
Mykolas Alekna, California (Discus)
Jordan Anthony, Arkansas (Sprints)
James Corrigan, BYU (Mid-Distance/Steeple)
Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor (Sprints/Hurdles)
Ishmael Kipkurui, New Mexico (Distance)
Carlie Makarawu, Kentucky (Sprints)
Ralford Mullings, Oklahoma (Throws)
Brian Musau, Oklahoma State (Distance)
Ethan Strand, North Carolina (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Ja'Kobe Tharp, Auburn (Hurdles)
 
The Bowerman – Women's Semifinalists
Aaliyah Butler, Georgia (Sprints)
JaMeesia Ford, South Carolina (Sprints)
Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico (Distance)
Elena Kulichenko, Georgia (Jumps)
Mya Lesnar, Colorado State (Throws)
Doris Lemngole, Alabama (Distance)
Amanda Moll, Washington (Pole Vault)
Hana Moll, Washington (Pole Vault)
Savannah Sutherland, Michigan (Sprints/Hurdles)
Roisin Willis, Stanford (Mid-Distance)
 
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