NEW ORLEANS—South Dakota junior pole vaulter Chris Nilsen has been named to The Bowerman Post-Conference Championships Watch List as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
Nilsen was a semifinalist for The Bowerman in 2018 following a sophomore campaign where he broke the NCAA Championships meet record with a vault of 19 feet, 1 ½ inches, to win his second NCAA title.
 
The Bowerman, dubbed the Heisman of collegiate track and field, is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female athlete in the nation. The award debuted in 2009 and winners are announced at a ceremony in December in conjunction with the USTFCCCA annual convention.
 
Nilsen improved his own Summit League Championships meet record a week ago by clearing 19-0 ¾ in the pole vault. It marks his fourth 19-foot jump this season and the 10th of his career. He is one of 18 USD student-athletes to qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary held in Sacramento, California, next week and enters with the top mark in the region.
 
The men's pole vault competition at the NCAA West Preliminary is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) Thursday.
 
The Bowerman Men's Watch List: 2019 Post-Conference Championships
 
Name, School, Year, Events
Devin Dixon, Texas A&M, Jr., Mid-Distance
Mondo Duplantis, LSU, Fr., Pole Vault
Grant Holloway, Florida, Jr., Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps
Morgan McDonald, Wisconsin, RS-Sr., Distance
Chris Nilsen, South Dakota, Jr., Pole Vault
Divine Oduduru, Texas Tech, Jr., Sprints
Payton Otterdahl, North Dakota State, Sr., Throws
Anderson Peters, Mississippi State, RS-So., Throws
Daniel Roberts, Kentucky, Jr., Sprints/Hurdles
Trevor Stewart, North Carolina A&T, So., Sprints