Courtney Okolo wins Bowerman Award as nation’s top track athlete

By Steve Lansdale

ORLANDO, Fla. — University of Texas sprinter Courtney Okolo is about as dominant as an athlete can be, having etched her name permanently on the lists of the nation’s top track and field athletes and the greatest in her sport in UT history. She capped off her extraordinary 2016 in the only appropriate way Friday when she was named the winner of the Bowerman Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top track athlete.

Okolo was [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]one of three finalists for the award. The others were Georgia’s Keturah Orji of Georgia and Raven Saunders of Ole Miss.

“When you look at the wall and you see all the Olympians and gold medalists and world record holders, this is not some small award,” Okolo said. “It’s a big deal. People who win this award are the best ever. It means a lot to me and I’m really honored to have received it.”

The award, given by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), was created in 2009 and often is referred to as “track’s Heisman Trophy.”

“It means a lot,” Okolo said. “I hope this can carry the weight that the Heisman does. It’s very important for us athletes to have something to honor us. I’m really blessed that they honored me with this award.”

In 2016, Okolo won her second consecutive NCAA indoor title in the 400 meters, winning the event in 50.69 — the third-fastest time in college history. She also ran the anchor leg of UT’s national championship-winning 4×400-meter relay team; the Longhorns’ time of 3:28.27 was the sixth-fastest in NCAA history … and the team’s second-fastest of the season, after the Longhorns won the event in 3:27.94 at the Tyson Invitational.

She also broke her own NCAA outdoor record in the 400 meters when she won the event at the LSU Alumni Gold in 49.71. She then won the NCAA outdoor championship in the event in 50.36 seconds, the 10^th-fastest time in collegiate history to give her four of the top 10 times in the 400 meters outdoors. In addition, Okolo ran the anchor leg to bring UT back from behind to win the 4×40-meter relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

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