AUSTIN, Texas – With championship season approaching, the USTFCCCA has updated its watch lists for the 2015 Bowerman Award. The men’s list was announced on Wednesday and on Thursday, Texas sprinter Courtney Okolo was named to the women’s updated list.
Okolo has been on the list from the initial preseason announcement and all through indoor season as well. She currently leads the NCAA in the 400 meters with her time of 50.99 seconds at the Michael Johnson Classic. Okolo also has contributed to the top 4×400 meter relay time in the nation and the No. 6 4×100 squad. She helped the Longhorns win the prestigious Penn Relays and successfully defend their 4×400 title at the meet.
During indoor season, Okolo won her first indoor title in the 400 meters and ran on the championship winning 4×400 meter relay that posted the No. 5 time in collegiate history.
Okolo was a finalist for The Bowerman in 2014 after winning the outdoor title in the 400 meters and breaking the collegiate record at the Big 12 Championships with a time of 50.03 seconds. She was a force in the event both indoors and out and helped Texas win the 4×400 meter relay at the NCAA outdoor meet while setting an NCAA Championship meet record.
This month’s list saw some shake ups from April. Four women were new to the list this month compared to last. Quintunya Chapman from Georgia, UMKC’s Courtney Frerichs, Demi Payne of Stephen F. Austin and Emily Sisson from Providence were added to the list of 10 for May. Eight other women are listed among those also receiving votes.
Okolo is the only representative from the Big 12 Conference on the women’s watch list.
