NEW ORLEANS – Following a strong weekend at the NCAA West Prelim, Air Force thrower Texas Tanner remained on the Watch List for The Bowerman Award – the highest honor in collegiate track and field, as The Bowerman Advisory Group and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its latest update on June 4.
Tanner, who became the first-ever Service Academy athlete to be placed on The Bowerman Watch List during its last update in May, is the only thrower on the 10-man Pre-NCAA Outdoor list.
His 2026 season has already accounted for two American Collegiate Records, two Indoor All-America performances, one NCAA Outdoor regional title, four conference titles, two Mountain West Records, two MW Championship Meet Records, the Air Force and Service Academy Records in all five of his throwing events, the program’s first USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week award, and upcoming appearances in the finals of the discus and hammer at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The native of Sheridan, Wyo., leads the NCAA in the discus throw (228’2″) and hammer throw (258’9″) – with both marks ranked as the No. 2 all-time marks in NCAA history and the best throws by an American-born collegiate.
The Bowerman is awarded each year to the top male and female collegiate athlete in NCAA Track and Field. The Watch List, which is released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, throughout the season, represents the Top 10 picks of The Bowerman Advisory Group at the time of each update.
The June 4 men’s edition of The Bowerman Watch List includes Auburn’s Kayinsola Ajay (sprints), Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum (middle distances), Kansas State’s Tah Chikomba (jumps), Louisville’s Georffrey Kirwa (steeplechase / distances), Alabama’s Samuel Ogazi (sprints), Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman (middle distances / distances), New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel (distances), Air Force’s Texas Tanner (throws), Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp (hurdles), and Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins (sprints).
