The Bowerman Includes Two T&F Bulldogs As Semifinalists
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia track and field senior Elena Kulichenko and junior Aaliyah Butler have been named two of 10 semifinalists for The Bowerman, which is given annually to the nation’s most elite male and female collegiate student-athletes.
The Bulldog duo is the first UGA pair to earn semifinalist honors in the same season since Keturah Orji and Lynna Irby were semifinalists together in 2018. Orji and Kendell Williams were also semifinalists together in 2016-17.
Sisters Amanda Moll and Hana Moll of Washington are the only other pair of teammates on this year’s list. Four of the 10 semifinalists are from the Southeastern Conference.
Keturah Orji (2018) is Georgia’s only winner in history and is also the only four-time semifinalist on the women’s side (2015-18) in the award’s history.
Three women’s finalists will be announced on July 7. The winner is chosen by The Bowerman voters who consist of national and regional media personnel, track & field statisticians, NCAA collegiate administrators, past winners and Presidents of affiliated organizations.
Kulichenko, a native of Odintsovo, Russia, collected her second straight USTFCCCA South Region Outdoor Women’s Field Athlete of the Year this season and earned the indoor honor in 2025. She won the third NCAA high jump title of her career (first outright) with a clearance of 1.96 meters/6 feet, 5 inches thanks to a perfect 5-for-5 on opening height clearances. Kulichenko earned runner-up honors at the SEC after reaching a top clearance of 1.87m/6-1.50. She had one of the nation’s top regular season heights at 1.89m/6-2.25 during the regular season to win the Tiger Track Classic.
Butler, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has been voted the winner of the Honda Sport Award for Track & Field and was named the 2025 SEC Indoor Women’s Runner of the Year. She won the NCAA 400m title after clocking a school record 49.26 to become the No. 5 all-time collegiate performer in the event. Butler’s anchor leg of 48.79 is one of the top American/collegiate splits in history en route to Georgia winning the NCAA 4x400m relay with a school record with a 3:23.62 (No. 8 all-time collegiate performer). She won the SEC outdoor 400m crown thanks to topping her nearest competitor by nearly a second with a 50.36. Butler also won the Tom Jones Invite with a then school record 49.44 in 400m.
The Bulldog duo is the first UGA pair to earn semifinalist honors in the same season since Keturah Orji and Lynna Irby were semifinalists together in 2018. Orji and Kendell Williams were also semifinalists together in 2016-17.
Sisters Amanda Moll and Hana Moll of Washington are the only other pair of teammates on this year’s list. Four of the 10 semifinalists are from the Southeastern Conference.
Keturah Orji (2018) is Georgia’s only winner in history and is also the only four-time semifinalist on the women’s side (2015-18) in the award’s history.
Three women’s finalists will be announced on July 7. The winner is chosen by The Bowerman voters who consist of national and regional media personnel, track & field statisticians, NCAA collegiate administrators, past winners and Presidents of affiliated organizations.
Kulichenko, a native of Odintsovo, Russia, collected her second straight USTFCCCA South Region Outdoor Women’s Field Athlete of the Year this season and earned the indoor honor in 2025. She won the third NCAA high jump title of her career (first outright) with a clearance of 1.96 meters/6 feet, 5 inches thanks to a perfect 5-for-5 on opening height clearances. Kulichenko earned runner-up honors at the SEC after reaching a top clearance of 1.87m/6-1.50. She had one of the nation’s top regular season heights at 1.89m/6-2.25 during the regular season to win the Tiger Track Classic.
Butler, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has been voted the winner of the Honda Sport Award for Track & Field and was named the 2025 SEC Indoor Women’s Runner of the Year. She won the NCAA 400m title after clocking a school record 49.26 to become the No. 5 all-time collegiate performer in the event. Butler’s anchor leg of 48.79 is one of the top American/collegiate splits in history en route to Georgia winning the NCAA 4x400m relay with a school record with a 3:23.62 (No. 8 all-time collegiate performer). She won the SEC outdoor 400m crown thanks to topping her nearest competitor by nearly a second with a 50.36. Butler also won the Tom Jones Invite with a then school record 49.44 in 400m.
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