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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior Laulauga Tausaga was named to the 2020 Bowerman preseason watch list, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Monday. She is the first Hawkeye ever to be named to this watch list.
The Bowerman is an annual track and field award and is the highest accolade given to the year’s best student-athlete in collegiate track and field. It is the equivalent of college football’s Heisman Trophy. The award is named after Oregon track and field and cross country coach Bill Bowerman and is administered by the USTFCCCA. The winner is announced December 2020.
Tausaga had a record breaking 2019 season that ended with an NCAA discus title and a berth to the 2019 World Championship in Doha, Qatar, where she finished in the top five with a personal best and discus school record (63.94m).
Tausaga currently holds five school records. She is a five-time All-American, four-time Big Ten champion, and the reigning 2019 Big Ten Athlete of the Year.
“I’m honored that my development as a high preforming athlete has been recognized and I hope to continue doing the right things to maintain this high level of ability,” Tausaga said. “Iowa has given me the space to develop these skills through Coach Werskey and many other people, and I couldn’t thank my throwing staff enough for getting me to compete at this high level.
“Being the first person on this this list for Iowa is especially sweet because I have placed myself in a category of firsts and I’m glad to be part of Iowa’s growing program and part of track history.”
Tausaga and the Hawkeyes host the Hawkeye Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Weight throw begins Friday at 2 p.m. (CT) at the HTRC. The Saturday events start starting at 10 a.m. (CT).
