Two standout runners from Brigham Young University (BYU) have been named to the preseason watchlist for The Bowerman Award, a prestigious honor recognizing the top collegiate track and field athletes in the United States. Jane Hedengren and James Corrigan earned this distinction, marking a significant moment for BYU, as no athlete from the university has ever won this national accolade.
The announcement was made by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association this week. This places Hedengren as just the fourth woman from BYU to be included on the watchlist, joining the ranks of Lacey Bleazard, Whittni Morgan, and Courtney Wayment. Similarly, Corrigan becomes the third male athlete from BYU to achieve this recognition, following Zach McWhorter and Kenneth Rooks, according to information from the university.
Hedengren’s remarkable performance includes shattering the NCAA record for the 5,000 meters during her first collegiate track race in December, finishing with a time of 14:44.79. This achievement made her the first collegiate woman to complete the distance in under 14:50 and the sole freshman named to this year’s watchlist. Notably, she is the first freshman to make The Bowerman watchlist since Mondo Duplantis of Louisiana State University earned the honor in 2019. Duplantis went on to win two Olympic gold medals in pole vaulting during the 2021 and 2024 Olympics.
Corrigan’s accolades include competing as a 2024 Paris Olympian and clinching the NCAA steeplechase national title in 2025. His achievements have propelled him into the spotlight, showcasing his potential to contend for The Bowerman.
The Bowerman Award, established in 2009, is awarded annually to the top male and female collegiate track and field athletes. Last year, the honors went to Jordan Anthony from Arkansas and Doris Lemngole from Alabama. The selection process for the watchlist involves the Bowerman Advisory Board, which compiles a list of the top ten collegiate athletes based on their performances.
For athletes to be eligible, their performances from December 1, 2025, through the NCAA outdoor championship finals in June are considered. Notably, performances in cross country do not qualify for the award.
The announcement of The Bowerman winners follows a structured timeline. Seven regular-season watchlists will be released starting in February, with semifinalists announced in June, after the NCAA outdoor championship finals. Finalists will also be revealed later that month, with voting closing in July. The winners will be announced in December.
This year’s watchlist features a competitive selection of athletes, with Hedengren and Corrigan representing BYU among other talented contenders from various universities across the nation. As the track and field season progresses, both athletes will look to solidify their positions as frontrunners for this esteemed award.
