South Dakota junior Chris Nilsen repeats as a semifinalist for The Bowerman as announced Thursday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Bowerman, dubbed the Heisman of collegiate track and field, is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female in the nation.

Nilsen captured his third NCAA Championship title in the pole vault in record-breaking fashion last week. The defending champion bested the world leader on the collegiate scene’s biggest stage by vaulting a lifetime best of 19 feet, 6 ¼ inches (5.95m). The height broke his own NCAA Championship meet record, moves Nilsen to third all-time in NCAA history and ranks No. 25 on the IAAF’s world record books.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Nilsen ranks No. 1 in the United States and No. 2 in the world this year.