The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Akinosun, Okolo among nation's best heading into 2016
01.06.2016 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Senior sprinters up for Bowerman
AUSTIN, Texas – With track and field season in full swing as teams prepare for meets the USTFCCCA announced its 2016 Bowerman Women's Preseason Watch List on Wednesday. Two Texas Longhorns are among the list of early contenders for the prestigious award after having strong 2015 campaigns.
Seniors Morolake Akinosun and Courtney Okolo both are listed among the others receiving votes and are just outside the 10 student-athletes on the official preseason watch list.
Last year, Okolo won her first individual indoor national title by claiming the 400 meters at the NCAA Championships in Arkansas. She along with Akinosun helped the Longhorns win the 4x400m relay in the fifth-fastest time in collegiate history to win that event as well.
Akinosun had her best season as a Longhorn winning all four of her events at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, completing the 100/200 sweep and running on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Akinosun also was the Big 12 indoor champ in the 60 meters and finished second in the 200.
At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Akinosun finished second in the 100 meters and fifth in the 200. Her time of 22.52 seconds in the 200 was a new school record. She also ran on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays to earn first team All-America status in all four events and become the second woman in history to score points in four events in back-to-back years at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Okolo posted a new personal best time indoors in the 400 meters when she won the NCAA title in 51.12 seconds. At the Big 12 Indoor Championships, Okolo played a huge role in helping the Longhorns hold off Kansas State for the team title. She won the 600 yards title and less than an hour later came back and ran in the 400 meter final to finish fourth. She then ran on the 4x400 relay that crossed first and sealed the team title for Texas.
Okolo's outdoor season was cut short with an injury as she was unable to compete at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds. That disqualified her from defending her outdoor title in the 400 meters. She did win the 400 and finished fourth in the 200 at the Big 12 outdoor meet and ran on the 4x400 relay. Okolo does own the collegiate outdoor record in the 400 meters with a time of 50.03 seconds from the 2014 Big 12 Championships and set the NCAA Championships meet record at 50.23 seconds that year. In 2014, Okolo was one of three finalists for the Bowerman.
The USTFCCCA will announce the 2016 Bowerman Men's Preseason Watch List on Thursday and update both lists periodically throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons. Three men and women will be selected as finalists with the winner of the most prestigious award in collegiate track and field announced during the USTFCCCA Convention next winter.
Created in 2009, The Bowerman, named after legendary former coach of the Oregon Ducks and co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track and field athletes in the nation and has been called by some "The Heisman Trophy of Track and Field."
Since the award's inception, the USTFCCCA has recognized a number of athletes who are among the best in the world today. Past winners and finalists combined to win six medals at the 2012 London Olympics.
2016 Bowerman Women's Preseason Watch List (listed alphabetically)
Quanesha Burks, Alabama
Kyra Jefferson, Florida
Akela Jones, Kansas State
Shamier Little, Texas A&M
Cindy Ofili, Michigan
Keturah Orji, Georgia
Demi Payne, Stephen F. Austin
Raevyn Rogers, Oregon
Raven Saunders, Ole Miss
Shelbi Vaughan, Texas A&M
Also Receiving Votes: Morolake Akinosun (Texas); Erica Bougard (Mississippi State); Courtney Frerichs (New Mexico); Courtney Okolo (Texas); DeAnna Price (Southern Illinois); Irena Sediva (Virginia Tech); Molly Seidel (Notre Dame); Kendell Williams (Georgia)
Players Mentioned
