Adeleke, Alfred and Smith named Bowerman as semifinalists

AUSTIN, Texas The Texas women’s track and field team has three semifinalists for the 2023 Bowerman Award, which is presented to the top male and female track and field athlete over the combined indoor and outdoor seasons.

Julian Alfred has been in every watch list update, including the preseason watch list. This is the second time in his career that he has been selected as a semifinalist last season. Alfred dominated both the indoor and outdoor seasons, winning five NCAA championships, four of which were individual events.

The 14-time All-American won the indoor dual, winning the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, where he broke the collegiate record. The season went on to defend his 100m title and went consecutively without losing a collegiate 100m event. He added the outdoor 200-meter title to his name with the fastest time in NCAA history in all conditions and helped the Longhorns defend their 4×100 relay title at home.

The USTFCCCA also named Alfred the Indoor and Outdoor National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year this season.

Rhasidat Adeleke is making his first appearance as a Bowerman semifinalist and was named to the watch list four times this season. Adeleke was the NCAA indoor runner-up in the 400m and helped the Longhorns finish second in the 4x400m relay and as a team.

He added an individual NCAA title to his name, knocking off favorite Britton Wilson in a personal record time and a collegiate 2 time in the 400m outdoors. Adeleke was part of the 4×100 relay that broke the collegiate record three times this season, running the third leg and helping Texas win its first team title since 2005.

Akelia Smith is the last Longhorn to be named a semifinalist after finishing in the top three in both the long and triple jumps at both NCAA meets this season. Smith was NCAA runner-up in the long jump and finished third in the triple jump during the indoor season. He dominated the long jump during the offseason, setting the second-highest mark in NCAA Big 12 history with his leap of 7.08m (23-7.25) and winning the NCAA title at 6.88m. She finished second in the NCAA triple jump with a personal-best 14.54, becoming the only male or female Longhorn to finish in the top two in both events at the same NCAA Championships.

Bowerman will announce the three finalists on Monday, June 26.