AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas Track & Field sprinting sensation and 2023 USTFCCCA Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year Julien Alfred has been selected as one of three finalists for The Bowerman Award – track and field’s highest individual honor.
The 14-time All-American had a historic season for the Longhorns, winning four NCAA individual titles and defended the 4×100 relay title on the way to leading Texas to its fifth NCAA outdoor team title. Her wins speak for themselves. Alfred went undefeated during the indoor 60-meter dash and broke her own collegiate record six times (6.94, 6.96, 6.97, 7.00, 7.02, 7.03) this season. She now boasts nine of the top-10 fastest times in collegiate history in the event.
She capped her indoor campaign with the collegiate record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.01 seconds. She’s the first Big 12 woman to sweep both titles at NCAAs and just the third female sprinter nationally to complete the double in the last 25 years.
There was no slowing down once she got outside. Alfred remained undefeated in the 100-meter for two straights seasons and defended her NCAA title with a time of 10.72w – the fastest all-conditions time in NCAA history. She’s just the sixth woman to ever defend 100m titles and first in conference history. Her work wasn’t done there as she later completed the double again winning the 200m with another all-conditions top time at 21.73w. Alfred became the first collegian since 2016 to sweep both events.
The St. Lucia native ran the first leg of the 4×100-meter relay champion team that broke the collegiate record three different occasions this season. The Longhorn women went undefeated all year in the 4×100 winning all five races with ease. Their best time of the season came at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the semifinals with their time of 41.55.
This season also saw Alfred leading the Longhorns to its fourth-straight Big 12 outdoor title and was tabbed with the High Point Scorer of the Meet award, scoring 22.5 points. She was also part of the 4×200 and sprint medley relay teams that set collegiate records at the 2023 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
Alfred is the fourth Texas woman to be named a finalist, joining 2016 winner Courtney Okolo who was a two-time finalist, 2021 finalist Tara Davis and 2009 finalist Destinee Hooker. She will be joined by fellow finalists Jasmine Moore of Florida and Britton Wilson of Arkansas.
Online fan voting opens Tuesday, June 27 at 3 p.m. CT and winners will be announced on Thurs., December 14 during the annual USTFCCCA Convention in Aurora, Colo.