Nebraska’s Axelina Johansson was named the winner of the Honda Award for Track and Field, the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards (CWSA) announced on Monday. She the first Honda Track and Field Award winner in school history. In addition, it was also announced by USTFCCCA on Monday that Johansson was also named the USTFCCCA National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year.
She joins Jordy Frahm as the Huskers’ second winner of the prestigious national award, after Frahm took home the Honda prize for softball.
They are both now finalists for the Honda Cup Class of 2026 Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year which will be awarded on Monday, July 27 and will be presented live at 6 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.
“Winning the Honda Award is an incredible honor and a testament to Axelina’s hard work and dedication,” said Head Coach Justin St. Clair, “Her perseverance, resilience, and commitment to excellence have made this achievement possible. We couldn’t be prouder of Axelina, this recognition is so well deserved, and we are thrilled to celebrate her success.”
Said Johansson, “There are so many amazing women in this sport, so being named the best female college athlete in track and field is such an honor and feels absolutely amazing. I could not have done it without the team around, so I truly want to thank Nebraska and all the resources they have provided me during these past 5 years, my family, teammates, friends and coach St. Clair for believing in me.”
Johansson capped one of the most decorated careers in collegiate track and field history by capturing the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championship in the shot put with a meet-record throw of 19.92m (65-4 ¼). Earlier in the season, she claimed her sixth career Big Ten shot put title (titles include indoor and outdoor seasons) with a personal-best and conference meet-record mark of 19.97m (65-6 ¼), the second-farthest throw in NCAA history.
The NCAA Outdoor title came on the heels of her impressive 2026 indoor campaign, highlighted by an Indoor NCAA Championship victory, giving Johansson four career NCAA shot put championships across indoor and outdoor competition. The captain also set the indoor collegiate shot put record, throwing 19.72m (64-8 ½).
2026 Season Accomplishments:
2x Shot Put NCAA Champion
2x Shot Put Big Ten Champion
NCAA Indoor Shot Put Record Holder, 19.72m (64-8 ½)
No. 2 NCAA all-time Outdoor Shot Put, 19.97m (65-6 ¼)
World Indoor Championship Bronze
