Johansson Named Semifinalist for Bowerman

Nebraska’s Axelina Johansson was one of 10 track and field athletes across the NCAA that was named a semifinalist for The 2026 Bowerman Award on Wednesday.

The Bowerman, presented by the USTFCCCA, is the highest track and field accolade given annually to the most outstanding college male and female athletes. 

From Hok, Sweden, Johansson was crowned the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Shot Put Champion this season, breaking the indoor collegiate record (19.72m, 64-8 ½) and outdoor championship meet record (19.97m, 65-6 ¼) along the way. The senior also owns both the indoor and outdoor school records as well as the Swedish national record. 

Adding to her accolades, Johansson was a seven-time First-Team All-American, the 2026 Honda Award for Track and Field winner, the USTFCCCA Women’s National Field Athlete of the Year, a 2026 World Championships Bronze Medalist, and a six-time NCAA medalist.

While The Bowerman was first awarded in 2009, Johansson is Nebraska’s second semifinalist in program history, as Rhema Otabor was named a semifinalist in 2024. Johansson originally made the women's preseason watch list and has been on every watch list from that point on.

On June 29, three women will be announced as finalists, with men to be announced on June 30. From that point, fan voting will begin and run through July 2. The Bowerman winners will be announced on Dec. 17 at the USTFCCCA Convention in Grapevine, Texas.