Johansson Named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List

Axelina Johansson was one of 10 track and field athletes nationally named to The Bowerman 2024 women's preseason watch list on Tuesday.

The Bowerman, presented by the USTFCCCA, is the highest track and field accolade given annually to the most outstanding college male and female athletes. First awarded in 2009, watch lists have been released since 2010. 

Johansson is Nebraska’s first athlete named to the list and is one of five female athletes making their watch list debuts.

A four-time All-American, Johansson claimed the 2023 Outdoor NCAA title and Indoor NCAA silver medal in the shot put. The junior from Hok, Sweden swept the Big Ten shot put titles last season, putting up a school record-breaking mark of 64-1 1/4 (19.54m) at the outdoor meet to earn the Big Ten Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year honor. Earlier in the season, Johansson topped the indoor school record book, throwing a 63-4 (19.30m) at the Frank Sevigne Invitational. Her best indoor and outdoor distances also broke the Swedish records.

Adding to Johansson’s accolades, she was named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year and a Second Team Academic All-American last year.

Throughout the season, seven updates are made to the watch list before semifinalists and finalists are announced in June.

Last year’s winners included Julien Alfred of Texas and Jaydon Hibbert of Arkansas. Alfred topped the women’s race, closing the season with five NCAA titles while contributing to five collegiate records. Hibbert, the first male freshman to win the Bowerman, swept the NCAA triple jump titles, breaking the collegiate and World U20 records.

The first update to the list is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 7. Nebraska begins its season at the Graduate Classic Jan. 12-13 at the Devaney Center Indoor Track.