Geoffrey Kirwa Included on Third Straight The Bowerman Watch List
June 04, 2026 | Track & Field
The sophomore will enter next week’s NCAA Outdoor Championships as one of the favorites to capture the national title in the men’s 3000m steeplechase.
NEW ORLEANS, La. – University of Louisville men's track & field sophomore Geoffrey Kirwa has been named to his third consecutive The Bowerman Watch List, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Thursday.
One of the top steeplechasers in the NCAA, Kirwa most recently clocked a time of 8:21.35 at the NCAA East First Round on May 29 to earn his second straight bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He will enter the national championship meet as one of the favorites to bring home the national title, just one year after finishing as the NCAA runner-up.
At the Bryan Clay Invitational on Apr. 16, Kirwa notably raced to an NCAA-leading steeplechase time of 8:08.10 that currently ranks as the fifth-fastest time in the world in 2026, the second-fastest time in collegiate history, and moves him within three seconds of the long-standing NCAA record of 8:05.4 that was set by Washington State's Henry Rono in 1978.
The native of Kapsabet, Kenya, now owns three of the top 10 individual performances in the 3000m steeplechase in NCAA history, including a time of 8:13.89 at the 2025 Bryan Clay Invitational and an 8:17.12 performance at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Along with his success in the steeplechase, Kirwa also currently holds the 11th-fastest 5000m in the NCAA this season with a time of 13:21.49 that he recorded at the Stanford Invitational on Apr. 3. Additionally, he finished as the ACC bronze medalist in the 5000m, crossing the line in 13:30.19 at the ACC Outdoor Championships on May 16.
The Bowerman, bestowed annually to the most outstanding men's and women's athlete in collegiate track & field, considers athletes' performances during the NCAA indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons. The performance window for the current season began on November 28, 2025, and will end on June 13, 2026.
The full list of names on the most recent men's watch list for The Bowerman can be found below. The 10 men's semifinalists for the award will be released on Thursday, June 25, following the conclusion of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Three finalists for The Bowerman will be selected in late June/early July, and the winners will be announced in December.
THE BOWERMAN MEN'S WATCH LIST – JUNE 4, 2026
Kayinsola Ajayi, Auburn (Sprints)
Simeon Birnbaum, Oregon (Mid-Distance)
Tah Chikomba, Kansas State (Jumps)
Geoffrey Kirwa, Louisville (Steeple/Distance)
Samuel Ogazi, Alabama (Sprints)
Colin Sahlman, Northern Arizona (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Habtom Samuel, New Mexico (Distance)
Texas Tanner, Air Force (Throws)
Ja'Kobe Tharp, Auburn (Hurdles)
Jelani Watkins, Arkansas (Sprints)
ABOUT THE BOWERMAN
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 collegiate track & field.
As of November 2025, winners of The Bowerman have earned 22 Olympic medals – including 11 gold medals – 27 World Championship titles, 45 total World Championship medals, and three have set World Records.
Bill Bowerman served the sport of track & field in numerous ways. His leadership as president of the USTFCCCA's predecessor organization, the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track & field and the running community as a whole are among his many lasting legacies.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
One of the top steeplechasers in the NCAA, Kirwa most recently clocked a time of 8:21.35 at the NCAA East First Round on May 29 to earn his second straight bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He will enter the national championship meet as one of the favorites to bring home the national title, just one year after finishing as the NCAA runner-up.
At the Bryan Clay Invitational on Apr. 16, Kirwa notably raced to an NCAA-leading steeplechase time of 8:08.10 that currently ranks as the fifth-fastest time in the world in 2026, the second-fastest time in collegiate history, and moves him within three seconds of the long-standing NCAA record of 8:05.4 that was set by Washington State's Henry Rono in 1978.
The native of Kapsabet, Kenya, now owns three of the top 10 individual performances in the 3000m steeplechase in NCAA history, including a time of 8:13.89 at the 2025 Bryan Clay Invitational and an 8:17.12 performance at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Along with his success in the steeplechase, Kirwa also currently holds the 11th-fastest 5000m in the NCAA this season with a time of 13:21.49 that he recorded at the Stanford Invitational on Apr. 3. Additionally, he finished as the ACC bronze medalist in the 5000m, crossing the line in 13:30.19 at the ACC Outdoor Championships on May 16.
The Bowerman, bestowed annually to the most outstanding men's and women's athlete in collegiate track & field, considers athletes' performances during the NCAA indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons. The performance window for the current season began on November 28, 2025, and will end on June 13, 2026.
The full list of names on the most recent men's watch list for The Bowerman can be found below. The 10 men's semifinalists for the award will be released on Thursday, June 25, following the conclusion of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Three finalists for The Bowerman will be selected in late June/early July, and the winners will be announced in December.
THE BOWERMAN MEN'S WATCH LIST – JUNE 4, 2026
Kayinsola Ajayi, Auburn (Sprints)
Simeon Birnbaum, Oregon (Mid-Distance)
Tah Chikomba, Kansas State (Jumps)
Geoffrey Kirwa, Louisville (Steeple/Distance)
Samuel Ogazi, Alabama (Sprints)
Colin Sahlman, Northern Arizona (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Habtom Samuel, New Mexico (Distance)
Texas Tanner, Air Force (Throws)
Ja'Kobe Tharp, Auburn (Hurdles)
Jelani Watkins, Arkansas (Sprints)
ABOUT THE BOWERMAN
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 collegiate track & field.
As of November 2025, winners of The Bowerman have earned 22 Olympic medals – including 11 gold medals – 27 World Championship titles, 45 total World Championship medals, and three have set World Records.
Bill Bowerman served the sport of track & field in numerous ways. His leadership as president of the USTFCCCA's predecessor organization, the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track & field and the running community as a whole are among his many lasting legacies.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
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