Stigler Mentioned on “The Bowerman” Preseason Watch List

NEW ORLEANS – Kansas track & field’s All-American hurdler Michael Stigler is one of 16 athletes named to the preseason Bowerman Watch List as was released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Wednesday. The Bowerman Award, considered the ‘Heisman of Track & Field,’ is given to the nation’s top male and female track & field athletes and will be awarded later this year.
 
The junior makes his first career-appearance among those considered for The Bowerman. Though Stigler was not one of those 10 athletes to be listed on the official watch list, he was selected to the “Also Receiving Votes” list. The Canyon, Texas native is a two-time First Team All-American in the 400-meter hurdles and last season was the NCAA runner-up at the Outdoor National Championships. He is also the two-time defending Big 12 champion in the event. His school record time of 49.19, broken last June at the NCAA meet, ranked him among the top-10 Americans in 2013 and No. 2 among collegians.
 
Stigler was also a member of the Big 12 champion 4×400-meter relay team last May that has also garnered Second Team All-America honors each of the last two seasons.
 
The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track & field athletes in the nation. Past winners include Olympic gold medalist and decathlon world-record holder Ashton Eaton (2010), 10,000-meter Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp (2009), and 2011 IAAF World Champion in the 1,500 meters, Jenny Simpson (2009). For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the trophy and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org.
 
Stigler and the rest of his Jayhawk teammates will be in action Friday, Jan. 10 at the Bill Easton Classic inside Anschutz Pavilion. The day’s events are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and conclude at 6:15 p.m. Updates and results from the meet can be found at KUAthletics.com and on Twitter at @KUTrack.
 
 
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