Ajayi, Okon, Ogazi Miss Out in 2026 Bowerman Men’s Watch List Update
The first update of the 2026 Bowerman Men’s Watch List has been released with no Nigerian representation, a sharp contrast to the women’s list where a high jumper is receiving votes. Nigerian trio of Kanyinsola Ajayi, Israel Okon and Samuel Ogazi did not feature among the top ten or those receiving votes in this initial update.
The ten athletes named include Mykolas Alekna of Oregon, Peyton Bair of Oregon, Gary Martin of Virginia, Ralford Mullings of Oklahoma, Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan of Ole Miss, Colin Sahlman of Northern Arizona, Habtom Samuel of New Mexico, Jonathan Seremes of Texas Tech, Jonathan Simms of Georgia, and Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn.
Eight of these athletes have already competed this indoor season, with two setting collegiate records, while Alekna and Mullings are discus specialists who compete outdoors.
Others receiving votes are James Corrigan of BYU, BJ Green of Oklahoma, Brian Musau of Oklahoma State, Tarsis Orogot of Alabama, and Jimmy Rhoads of Washington.
Nigeria’s Nathaniel Ezekiel reached the Bowerman final in 2025, becoming one of three finalists, the first Nigerian to do so since Divine Oduduru achieved the feat in 2019.
The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009 and is named after former University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female athlete in NCAA and NAIA track and field.
