Mihaljevic Named 2017 Bowerman Semifinalist
June 15, 2017
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- Virginia men’s track and field senior Filip Mihaljevic (Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina) was named a 2017 Bowerman Men’s Semifinalist, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s release on Thursday (June 15). The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009, is awarded each year to the top male and female NCAA collegiate track and field athlete. Three finalists will be named for the Bowerman Award on June 22.
As the 2017 NCAA outdoor shot put and discus champion, Mihaljevic led the Cavaliers to their best finish in program history (third place). He reclaimed the NCAA title in the shot put with a mark of 21.30m (69-10.75), setting a UVA and ACC record in the event. In the discus, his effort of 63.76m (209-2) was a program best, earning the mark with his last throw of the night.
Mihaljevic scored 20 of the Cavaliers’ 36 points at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and was the first student-athlete in program history to record two national titles in a single outdoor season. He concluded his UVA career as a three-time NCAA champion.
During the indoor season, Mihaljevic qualified for the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships in the shot put. He entered as the third overall seed in the event.
Mihaljevic is the second Virginia student-athlete to appear on the 10-member semifinalist list for collegiate track and field’s top honor, joining two-time NCAA champion Robby Andrews. Andrews was a semifinalist for the award in 2011. Earlier this season, Mihaljevic was named to the 2017 preseason watch list alongside teammate and 2016 NCAA indoor mile champion Henry Wynne.
Bowerman 2017 Men’s Semifinalist
| NAME | YEAR | SCHOOL | EVENTS | HOMETOWN |
| KeAndre Bates | JR | Florida | Jumps | El Paso, Texas |
| Edward Cheserek | SR | Oregon | Distance | Newark, N.J. |
| Christian Coleman | JR | Tennessee | Sprints/Jumps | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Grant Holloway | FR | Florida | Hurdles/Jumps | Chesapeake, Va. |
| Fred Kerley | SR | Texas A&M | Sprints | Taylor, Texas |
| Josh Kerr | SO | New Mexico | Mid-Distance | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Emmanuel Korir | FR | UTEP | Mid-Distance | Iten, Kenya |
| Ioannis Kyriazis | JR | Texas A&M | Throws | Athens, Greece |
| Filip Mihaljevic | RS JR | Virginia | Throws | Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Lindon Victor | SR | Texas A&M | Combined Events | St. George’s, Grenada |