Otabor Named Semifinalist for The Bowerman

Nebraska’s Rhema Otabor was one of 10 track and field athletes across the NCAA named a semifinalist for The 2024 Bowerman 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. 

From Nassau, Bahamas, Otabor was crowned the NCAA Javelin Champion for the second straight year with a record-breaking 210-7 (64.19m). That mark broke the collegiate record, NCAA meet record, school record and Bahamian record. Before defending her NCAA title, she went back-to-back at the Big Ten Championships, winning the javelin title with a 189-6 (57.75m).

Adding to her accolades, the three-time First-Team All-American is the 2024 Midwest Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year, a 2023 World Athletics Championships Qualifier, the 2023 Bahamian Javelin National Champion and the 2023 Pan American Games Silver Medalist.

While The Bowerman was first awarded in 2009, Otabor is Nebraska’s first semifinalist in program history. Ahead of the 2024 season, Axelina Johansson was named to the women's preseason watch list and was NU’s first-ever mention on the list.

On June 24, three women and three men will be announced as finalists. From that point, The Bowerman winners are announced on Dec. 19 at the USTFCCCA Convention in Orlando, Fla.