2018 NCAA javelin champion Anderson Peters was one of 10 athletes on the The Bowerman's men's preseason watch list.
Javelin Champion Peters Named To The Bowerman Preseason Watch List
January 08, 2019 | Track & Field
by Caleb Garner, Graduate Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE – Fresh off winning the NCAA javelin championship, Mississippi State's Anderson Peters has been selected as one of 10 athletes on the men's preseason watch list for The Bowerman, collegiate track and field's highest honor.
The Bowerman was created in 2009 and is given annually to the top male and female athlete in track and field by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Peters finished as a semifinalist for the award in 2018 and was MSU's first ever semifinalist.
"This is an outstanding accomplishment," interim head coach Chris Woods said. "It goes to show how much work that he and Coach [April] Thomas have been putting into his event and his craft. It's difficult for field athletes to win, but he's the NCAA meet record holder. This year, he's going to try to break the NCAA overall record. If he does those things, I don't see why he shouldn't be a finalist. Anderson's a super talented kid and a great student. He's everything that The Bowerman embodies."
As a freshman, Peters captured the NCAA javelin title in June with a meet-record toss of 82.82m (217-9) on his third throw in Eugene, Oregon.
The St. Andrews, Grenada, native, entering his sophomore season in Starkville, is part of MSU's "JavU" corps as part of the only program in the nation to have three men throw 80 meters. In addition to Peters, 2016 javelin national champion Curtis Thompson returns for his final campaign. Nicolas Quijera is the third member of the troupe, throwing 80.21m (263-2) en route to a runner-up finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships.
All performances from the indoor and outdoor seasons are considered, including international competition.
On the international stage, Peters has been just as impressive, holding the Grenadian national record with a throw of 84.81m (278-3) in 2017. In 2018, he captured the javelin crown at the 2018 NACAC Championships and earning bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Of the 19 prior winners, seven have gone on to become Olympians. The men's winner has come from the SEC in four of the past five years.
No thrower has ever won the award, though multi-event athlete and Olympian Ashton Eaton – who holds the world record in both the outdoor decathlon and indoor heptathlon – claimed it in 2010.
"It's great to have somebody on The Bowerman watch list from Mississippi State," throws coach April Thomas said. "Hopefully he can win it, because he'd be in school history to do that. That would be wonderful. It'd put Mississippi State on the map and continue to push 'JavU.' I'm happy for him, and hopefully he can keep it rolling."
The Bowerman Preseason Men's Watch List
Denzel Comenentia, Georgia
Mondo Duplantis, LSU
Andre Ewers, Florida State
Grant Fisher, Stanford
Grant Holloway, Florida
Morgan McDonald, Wisconsin
Kahmari Montgomery, Houston
Chris Nilsen, South Dakota
Divine Oduduru, Texas Tech
Anderson Peters, Mississippi State
Next Up For The Bulldogs …
The Bulldogs will open up indoor season Jan. 11 at the UAB Blazer Invitational, held at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.
For more information on the Mississippi State track and field team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
STARKVILLE – Fresh off winning the NCAA javelin championship, Mississippi State's Anderson Peters has been selected as one of 10 athletes on the men's preseason watch list for The Bowerman, collegiate track and field's highest honor.
The Bowerman was created in 2009 and is given annually to the top male and female athlete in track and field by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Peters finished as a semifinalist for the award in 2018 and was MSU's first ever semifinalist.
"This is an outstanding accomplishment," interim head coach Chris Woods said. "It goes to show how much work that he and Coach [April] Thomas have been putting into his event and his craft. It's difficult for field athletes to win, but he's the NCAA meet record holder. This year, he's going to try to break the NCAA overall record. If he does those things, I don't see why he shouldn't be a finalist. Anderson's a super talented kid and a great student. He's everything that The Bowerman embodies."
As a freshman, Peters captured the NCAA javelin title in June with a meet-record toss of 82.82m (217-9) on his third throw in Eugene, Oregon.
The St. Andrews, Grenada, native, entering his sophomore season in Starkville, is part of MSU's "JavU" corps as part of the only program in the nation to have three men throw 80 meters. In addition to Peters, 2016 javelin national champion Curtis Thompson returns for his final campaign. Nicolas Quijera is the third member of the troupe, throwing 80.21m (263-2) en route to a runner-up finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships.
All performances from the indoor and outdoor seasons are considered, including international competition.
On the international stage, Peters has been just as impressive, holding the Grenadian national record with a throw of 84.81m (278-3) in 2017. In 2018, he captured the javelin crown at the 2018 NACAC Championships and earning bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Of the 19 prior winners, seven have gone on to become Olympians. The men's winner has come from the SEC in four of the past five years.
No thrower has ever won the award, though multi-event athlete and Olympian Ashton Eaton – who holds the world record in both the outdoor decathlon and indoor heptathlon – claimed it in 2010.
"It's great to have somebody on The Bowerman watch list from Mississippi State," throws coach April Thomas said. "Hopefully he can win it, because he'd be in school history to do that. That would be wonderful. It'd put Mississippi State on the map and continue to push 'JavU.' I'm happy for him, and hopefully he can keep it rolling."
The Bowerman Preseason Men's Watch List
Denzel Comenentia, Georgia
Mondo Duplantis, LSU
Andre Ewers, Florida State
Grant Fisher, Stanford
Grant Holloway, Florida
Morgan McDonald, Wisconsin
Kahmari Montgomery, Houston
Chris Nilsen, South Dakota
Divine Oduduru, Texas Tech
Anderson Peters, Mississippi State
Next Up For The Bulldogs …
The Bulldogs will open up indoor season Jan. 11 at the UAB Blazer Invitational, held at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.
For more information on the Mississippi State track and field team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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