Trio Named to Bowerman Preseason Watch List
01/08/26 | Track and Field
The Bowerman, first awarded in 2009, is named for legendary Oregon head coach Bill Bowerman.
EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon track and field trio of Mykolas Alekna, Silan Ayyildiz and Peyton Bair will start the year on The Bowerman Preseason Watch List, as announced this week by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Mykolas Alekna
Throws
Vilnius, Lithuania (Cal)
World and collegiate record holder in the discus (75.56m/247-10) … only man in world history beyond 75 meters … owns the nine best in-season throws in NCAA history including seven of 70 meters or more … two-time NCAA runner-up (2022, '25); finished third at the NCAA Championships in 2023 … three-time conference champion: Pac-12 – 2022, '23; ACC – 2025 … 24th appearance on The Bowerman WL; tied for third all-time behind Edward Cheserek (Oregon, 29), Keturah Orji (Georgia, 27) … three-time Bowerman semifinalist … began collegiate career at Cal; first season at Oregon.
Silan Ayyildiz
Distance
Istanbul, Turkey
Collegiate record holder in the indoor and outdoor mile … ran 4:23.46 at last year's BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational to break the previous NCAA record of 4:24.26 set by NC State's Katelyn Tuohy in 2023 … anchored Oregon to a collegiate record (10:42.05) in the distance medley relay … ran a time of 4:25.50 at the 2025 Drake Relays to eclipse the collegiate outdoor mile record … swept Big Ten indoor and outdoor titles at 5,000 meters and was the runner-up at 1500 meters … NCAA runner-up with the DMR; fourth place at 1500 meters and in the mile at last year NCAA Championships … fifth appearance on The Bowerman WL.
Peyton Bair
Multis
Kimberly, Idaho (Mississippi State)
Swept the 2025 NCAA titles in the combined events … scored a lifetime best of 8,323 points to win at the NCAA Championships in Eugene … ran the fastest-ever collegiate decathlon times of 10.25 at 100 meters and 46.00 at 400 meters; effort in the 400 was fifth fastest by a decathlete in world history … won the heptathlon at the indoor national meet with 6,013 points … established lifetime best in the heptathlon of 6,104 points at last winter's Charlie Thomas Invitational … 2024 NCAA runner-up in the decathlon with 8,131 points, his first time to eclipse 8,000 points … making debut appearance on The Bowerman WL … began career at Mississippi State; first season at Oregon.
Named for legendary Oregon head coach Bill Bowerman and first awarded in 2009, The Bowerman is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female performers in collegiate track and field. The next women's and men's watch lists are scheduled for the first week of February.
Five Oregon greats have won The Bowerman, a list featuring Galen Rupp (2009), Ashton Eaton (2010), Laura Roesler (2014), Jenna Prandini (2015) and Raevyn Rogers (2017).
The Ducks' indoor slate continues Jan. 16 with the Thane Baker Invitational in Manhattan, Kan. On the heels of a successful cross country season, the UO distance crew competed at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener in December which resulted in seven top-10 program efforts including school records for Simeon Birnbaum at 3,000 meters and Diana Cherotich at 5,000 meters.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Mykolas Alekna
Throws
Vilnius, Lithuania (Cal)
World and collegiate record holder in the discus (75.56m/247-10) … only man in world history beyond 75 meters … owns the nine best in-season throws in NCAA history including seven of 70 meters or more … two-time NCAA runner-up (2022, '25); finished third at the NCAA Championships in 2023 … three-time conference champion: Pac-12 – 2022, '23; ACC – 2025 … 24th appearance on The Bowerman WL; tied for third all-time behind Edward Cheserek (Oregon, 29), Keturah Orji (Georgia, 27) … three-time Bowerman semifinalist … began collegiate career at Cal; first season at Oregon.
Silan Ayyildiz
Distance
Istanbul, Turkey
Collegiate record holder in the indoor and outdoor mile … ran 4:23.46 at last year's BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational to break the previous NCAA record of 4:24.26 set by NC State's Katelyn Tuohy in 2023 … anchored Oregon to a collegiate record (10:42.05) in the distance medley relay … ran a time of 4:25.50 at the 2025 Drake Relays to eclipse the collegiate outdoor mile record … swept Big Ten indoor and outdoor titles at 5,000 meters and was the runner-up at 1500 meters … NCAA runner-up with the DMR; fourth place at 1500 meters and in the mile at last year NCAA Championships … fifth appearance on The Bowerman WL.
Peyton Bair
Multis
Kimberly, Idaho (Mississippi State)
Swept the 2025 NCAA titles in the combined events … scored a lifetime best of 8,323 points to win at the NCAA Championships in Eugene … ran the fastest-ever collegiate decathlon times of 10.25 at 100 meters and 46.00 at 400 meters; effort in the 400 was fifth fastest by a decathlete in world history … won the heptathlon at the indoor national meet with 6,013 points … established lifetime best in the heptathlon of 6,104 points at last winter's Charlie Thomas Invitational … 2024 NCAA runner-up in the decathlon with 8,131 points, his first time to eclipse 8,000 points … making debut appearance on The Bowerman WL … began career at Mississippi State; first season at Oregon.
Named for legendary Oregon head coach Bill Bowerman and first awarded in 2009, The Bowerman is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female performers in collegiate track and field. The next women's and men's watch lists are scheduled for the first week of February.
Five Oregon greats have won The Bowerman, a list featuring Galen Rupp (2009), Ashton Eaton (2010), Laura Roesler (2014), Jenna Prandini (2015) and Raevyn Rogers (2017).
The Ducks' indoor slate continues Jan. 16 with the Thane Baker Invitational in Manhattan, Kan. On the heels of a successful cross country season, the UO distance crew competed at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener in December which resulted in seven top-10 program efforts including school records for Simeon Birnbaum at 3,000 meters and Diana Cherotich at 5,000 meters.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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