Atherley Named to The Bowerman Watch List

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Michelle Atherley of the University of Miami women’ track and field program was named to the Bowerman 2019 Women’s Post-Indoor Watch List. 
 
The candidates for the Bowerman, collegiate track and field’s highest honor, were released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) on Wednesday. The index now includes national champions, conference champions and record setters as athletes around the nation are prepared to make the switch from the indoor to outdoor seasons per the USTFCCA. 
 
Atherley is one of three athlete to make their career debuts on the Watch List. Atherley was joined by Kaelin Roberts of Southern California and Kayla White of North Carolina A&T to bring the number of debuts to 13 this year. 
 
The trio are also joined by Chanel Brissett of USC, Olivia Gruver of Washington, Jessica Hull of Orgeon, Lexi Jacobus of Arkansas, Mackenzie Little of Stanford, Alicia Monson of Wisconsin and Danae Rivers of Penn State. 
 
Atherley was dubbed the national champion in the women’s pentathlon besting her ACC personal-best score with a new PR of 4,547. The mark now moves Atherely up all-time best performers list to No. 7 in collegiate history and became the Canes 17th Track and Field National Champion.  

Atherley is the first Cane to be named to the watch since Shakima Wimbley was a semifinalist in 2017. 
 
In total, the list scored 98 points at the NCAA Indoor Championships along with eight national titles. 
 
The next Bowerman Watch List will be released on April 17.