Chikomba Named to The Bowerman Watch List
Jun 05, 2026 | Track & Field
He becomes the first Wildcat to land on the final watch list since Erik Kynard in 2013
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State junior Tah Chikomba was added to The Bowerman Watch List on June 4, the final watch list of 10 men in Division I prior to the NCAA Championship on June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore. The semifinalist list will be announced by USTFCCCA on June 25.
The Bowerman- collegiate track & field's highest honor- is awarded each year to the top male and female collegiate athletes in the sport of NCAA track & field.
Chikomba, a native of Zimbabwe, jumped to 8.75m (28' 8.5"), with a wind aide of 3.2, at the NCAA West Preliminary in Fayetteville, Ark., on May 27. That jump is an all-conditions collegiate best, surpassing 8.74m by Erick Walder in 1997. That jump is currently the world lead and is no. 8 in world history. The furthest jump recorded at the NCAA Championship is 8.53m (28' 0") by Walder in 1993.
He currently leads the NCAA and holds the K-State school record with his wind legal jump of 8.27m (27' 1.75") from the Big 12 Championship on May 14. In his first competition of the season at the Oregon Team Invitational on April 17, he broke the school record for the first time at 8.25m (27' 1"). The previous school record was 8.21m, held by Kenny Harrison in 1988. The second-best jump in the NCAA this season is 8.19m (26 10.5") from Tyler Nichols at Southern Mississippi.
"Tah deserves this recognition. It's the highest honor in our sport," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "He's worked hard but more importantly very willing to continue to learn. I'm proud of him for his development both on and off the track."
Other men on the list include Kayinsola Ajayi (Auburn), Simeon Birnbaum (Oregon), Geoffrey Kirwa (Louisville), Samuel Ogazi (Alabama), Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona), Habtom Samuel (New Mexico), Texas Tanner (Air Force), Ja'Kobe Tharp (Auburn), Jelani Watkins (Arkansas). Chikomba is the only jumper on the list, among four sprinters, four distance runners and a thrower.
On the women's side, Big 12's Temitope Adeshina (Texas Tech) and Jane Hendengren (BYU) were named.
Travis Geopfert is no stranger to The Bowerman award, he coached two former winners during his two coaching stints at Arkansas, Jaydon Hibbert in 2023 and Jarrion Lawson in 2016. Ayden Owens-Delerme was a finalist in 2022.
Since the award debuted in 2009, Erik Kynard was the first Wildcat to show up on The Bowerman watch list in 2011, finishing as a semifinalist in 2012 and 2013. Prior to the cancelled season in 2020, TJ Shankar was named to the preseason list.
Two K-State women have also been associated, Akela Jones was on the 2016 preseason watch list, Ryann Krais received votes in 2012.
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
The Bowerman- collegiate track & field's highest honor- is awarded each year to the top male and female collegiate athletes in the sport of NCAA track & field.
Chikomba, a native of Zimbabwe, jumped to 8.75m (28' 8.5"), with a wind aide of 3.2, at the NCAA West Preliminary in Fayetteville, Ark., on May 27. That jump is an all-conditions collegiate best, surpassing 8.74m by Erick Walder in 1997. That jump is currently the world lead and is no. 8 in world history. The furthest jump recorded at the NCAA Championship is 8.53m (28' 0") by Walder in 1993.
He currently leads the NCAA and holds the K-State school record with his wind legal jump of 8.27m (27' 1.75") from the Big 12 Championship on May 14. In his first competition of the season at the Oregon Team Invitational on April 17, he broke the school record for the first time at 8.25m (27' 1"). The previous school record was 8.21m, held by Kenny Harrison in 1988. The second-best jump in the NCAA this season is 8.19m (26 10.5") from Tyler Nichols at Southern Mississippi.
"Tah deserves this recognition. It's the highest honor in our sport," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "He's worked hard but more importantly very willing to continue to learn. I'm proud of him for his development both on and off the track."
Other men on the list include Kayinsola Ajayi (Auburn), Simeon Birnbaum (Oregon), Geoffrey Kirwa (Louisville), Samuel Ogazi (Alabama), Colin Sahlman (Northern Arizona), Habtom Samuel (New Mexico), Texas Tanner (Air Force), Ja'Kobe Tharp (Auburn), Jelani Watkins (Arkansas). Chikomba is the only jumper on the list, among four sprinters, four distance runners and a thrower.
On the women's side, Big 12's Temitope Adeshina (Texas Tech) and Jane Hendengren (BYU) were named.
Travis Geopfert is no stranger to The Bowerman award, he coached two former winners during his two coaching stints at Arkansas, Jaydon Hibbert in 2023 and Jarrion Lawson in 2016. Ayden Owens-Delerme was a finalist in 2022.
Since the award debuted in 2009, Erik Kynard was the first Wildcat to show up on The Bowerman watch list in 2011, finishing as a semifinalist in 2012 and 2013. Prior to the cancelled season in 2020, TJ Shankar was named to the preseason list.
Two K-State women have also been associated, Akela Jones was on the 2016 preseason watch list, Ryann Krais received votes in 2012.
-- k-statesports.com --
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ Track & Field
Wednesday, May 20
Wednesday, May 20
Wednesday, May 13
Tuesday, May 12
