Adeshina makes Bowerman Award semis News

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Adeshina makes Bowerman Award semis

By Daily Sports Nigeria on June 26, 2020

Nigerian high jumper Temitope Adeshina has taken another major step towards collegiate athletics immortality after being named among the 10 semi-finalists for the prestigious Bowerman Award, the highest individual honour in U.S. collegiate track and field.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the women’s semi-finalists on Wednesday, with Adeshina joining a star-studded list that includes Jane Hedengren of BYU, Adaejah Hodge and Dejanea Oakley of Georgia, Sanu Jallow-Lockhart of Arkansas, Axelina Johansson of Nebraska, Alyssa Jones of Stanford, Aaliyah McCormick of Oregon, Hana Moll of Washington and Shenese Walker of Florida State.

Adeshina, who was recently named USTAFCCCA Female Athlete of The Year earned her place on the shortlist after a flawless collegiate campaign for Texas Tech, where she dominated the high jump throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons.

She completed an undefeated year while sweeping the NCAA Division I Indoor and Outdoor Championships titles. The Nigerian star successfully defended her NCAA indoor crown in March, clearing a season-best 1.97m to claim her second consecutive national title.

The mark placed her joint fifth on the all-time collegiate indoor list and reinforced her status as one of the most consistent jumpers in NCAA history.

She maintained that form during the outdoor campaign, recording a best clearance of 1.96m to win the NCAA outdoor title and finish the season tied for the national lead.

The Bowerman semi-final list reflects a year of extraordinary performances across the NCAA ranks. Collectively, the 10 athletes won 17 individual NCAA titles during the indoor and outdoor seasons while several rewrote collegiate record books in their respective events.

Among Adeshina’s rivals, BYU freshman Jane Hedengren broke collegiate records in the indoor 5,000m and the outdoor 5,000m and 10,000m, while Georgia sprinter Adaejah Hodge set new collegiate records in both the 100m and 200m. Arkansas middle-distance runner Sanu Jallow-Lockhart also shattered the collegiate 800m record en route to the NCAA title.

Nebraska thrower Axelina Johansson completed an undefeated season in the shot put, while Florida State’s Shenese Walker and Oregon hurdler Aaliyah McCormick swept sprint and hurdles titles respectively across the indoor and outdoor championships. Washington pole vaulter Hana Moll, meanwhile, continued her rise after twice breaking the collegiate outdoor record in her event.

The next stage of the award, which is the announcement of the finalists, will take place on June 29. The eventual winners will be crowned in December during the USTFCCCA Convention in Grapevine, Texas.

Source Punch Ng

Posted June 26, 2026