University of Georgia Athletics
Hodge, Oakley Named Finalists for The Bowerman
June 29, 2026 | Track & Field
NEW ORLEANS – Bulldogs Adaejah Hodge and Dejanea Oakley have been named finalists for The Bowerman announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday afternoon.
Georgia becomes just the second women's program in history to have two finalists for track and field's highest individual honor in the same season, joining Texas A&M's Athing Mu and Tyra Gittens who were both finalists in 2021.
Hodge and Oakley also join Bulldog legend Keturah Orji as the only Bulldog women to be named finalists for The Bowerman. Georgia's five all-time women's finalist selections– Orji (three), Hodge and Oakley – are tied with Texas and Oregon for the most in NCAA history.
Redshirt freshman Adaejah Hodge put together one of the top sprint seasons in collegiate history, shattering both the 100-meter (10.63) and 200-meter (21.68) dash records at this year's NCAA Outdoor Championships. The British Virgin Islands native claimed NCAA titles in the 200 meters both indoors and outdoors, finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash and 100-meter dash, and helped Georgia's 4x100-meter relay place third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, leading the Bulldogs to NCAA team titles during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. In her first collegiate season, she has collected an impressive 37.5 NCAA points and earned five First-Team All-America honors.
Senior Dejanea Oakley established herself as collegiate track and field's top quarter-miler after setting the collegiate record in the 400-meter (48.79) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships a few weeks ago. The Clarendon, Jamaica native claimed both the indoor and outdoor 400-meter titles. During her indoor campaign, she clocked a 35.94 finish in the 300-meter becoming only the fourth collegiate woman to run sub-36. Oakley also anchored Georgia's 4x400-meter relay to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, helping her squad post the second-best time in collegiate history at 3:20.96.
Fan voting for The Bowerman begins Tuesday, June 30, on The Bowerman's website and runs through Thursday, July 2.
Hodge and Oakley will be honored during the annual USTFCCCA Convention on Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. One of the Bulldogs will hope to take home collegiate track and field's highest individual honor during The Bowerman Presentation that evening.
News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on georgiadogs.com as well as X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Georgia becomes just the second women's program in history to have two finalists for track and field's highest individual honor in the same season, joining Texas A&M's Athing Mu and Tyra Gittens who were both finalists in 2021.
Hodge and Oakley also join Bulldog legend Keturah Orji as the only Bulldog women to be named finalists for The Bowerman. Georgia's five all-time women's finalist selections– Orji (three), Hodge and Oakley – are tied with Texas and Oregon for the most in NCAA history.
Redshirt freshman Adaejah Hodge put together one of the top sprint seasons in collegiate history, shattering both the 100-meter (10.63) and 200-meter (21.68) dash records at this year's NCAA Outdoor Championships. The British Virgin Islands native claimed NCAA titles in the 200 meters both indoors and outdoors, finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash and 100-meter dash, and helped Georgia's 4x100-meter relay place third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, leading the Bulldogs to NCAA team titles during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. In her first collegiate season, she has collected an impressive 37.5 NCAA points and earned five First-Team All-America honors.
Senior Dejanea Oakley established herself as collegiate track and field's top quarter-miler after setting the collegiate record in the 400-meter (48.79) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships a few weeks ago. The Clarendon, Jamaica native claimed both the indoor and outdoor 400-meter titles. During her indoor campaign, she clocked a 35.94 finish in the 300-meter becoming only the fourth collegiate woman to run sub-36. Oakley also anchored Georgia's 4x400-meter relay to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, helping her squad post the second-best time in collegiate history at 3:20.96.
Fan voting for The Bowerman begins Tuesday, June 30, on The Bowerman's website and runs through Thursday, July 2.
Hodge and Oakley will be honored during the annual USTFCCCA Convention on Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. One of the Bulldogs will hope to take home collegiate track and field's highest individual honor during The Bowerman Presentation that evening.
News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on georgiadogs.com as well as X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & FieldSunday, June 14
Sunday, June 14
Sunday, June 14
Saturday, June 13