Leo Neugebauer Wins The Bowerman In 2024

ORLANDO, Fla. – He calls himself “Leo the German.”

Now, Leo Neugebauer is “Leo The Bowerman winner.”

Neugebauer capped a sensational year by winning collegiate track & field’s highest individual honor. The former Texas star was feted on Thursday night at the conclusion of the 2024 USTFCCCA Convention, which was held at the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando, Florida.

He beat a talented group of finalists that also included Caleb Dean and Christopher Morales Williams. Dean became the first male athlete in collegiate history to win NCAA titles in both the 60-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles in the same year, while Morales Williams swept the 400-meter crowns and set an all-time world indoor best in the two-lapper.

Neugebauer, who hails from Leinfeldene-Echterdingen, Germany, one-upped himself when it didn’t even seem possible.

It was in Eugene, Oregon, where Neugebauer became just the seventh man in history to eclipse 8900 points in the decathlon with his 8961-point total. Included in that ten-event masterclass was decathlon discus world record 57.70m (189-4) and the highest Day 1 and Day 2 totals in collegiate history at 4685 points and 4276 points, respectively.

Earlier in the season, Neugebauer put up 8708 points at the Texas Relays for what is now the fourth best total in collegiate history behind two of his own and Kyle Garland’s former CR of 8720.

Under a roof, Neugebauer won the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a seven-event total of 6347 points, which vaulted him to fourth on the all-time collegiate chart.

Neugebauer is the third Longhorn to win The Bowerman, joining 2016 winner Courtney Okolo and 2023 winner Julien Alfred.