Photo by: Chris Swann, Mountain West Photos
Texas Tanner Repeats as MW Outdoor Athlete of the Year
6/25/2026 12:00:00 PM | Track and Field
LAS VEGAS – Texas Tanner's historic senior season was recognized by the Mountain West this morning (June 25), as the recently commissioned second lieutenant was named the Men's Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year. It is the second time in as many outdoor seasons that the Sheridan, Wyo., native has been selected by conference coaches as the top outdoor athlete in the Mountain West.
Tanner's remarkable 2026 campaign, which concluded with a runner-up finish in the hammer and a fourth-place finish in the discus at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, featured American Collegiate Records and the NCAA No. 2 all-time marks in both events (discus throw – 228'2", hammer throw – 258'9"). The first Service Academy athlete named to The Bowerman Watch List, Tanner led the NCAA in both throws during the regular season, won the hammer at the NCAA West Regional, and became the most decorated All-American in Air Force history (six) with a pair of First-Team honors in the finals.
After using Championship Meet Record performances to successfully defending his Mountain West titles in the discus and hammer for the third-straight year, Tanner was named the MW Field Performer of the Meet for the third time outdoors – and the fourth time overall. During the regular season, he also improved his own MW record in the hammer and broke a 26-year-old conference standard in the discus.
Tanner reset his own Air Force Records in the discus and hammer in 2026, while breaking an 11-year-old standard in the shot put (63'1½") to secure all five Academy standards in the rotational throws. Capturing 12 event titles in 19 competitions, while adding four runner-up finishes, Tanner became the most honored Mountain West Athlete of the Week in program history and became the first member of the Falcons' track and field program to be recognized as the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week.
It is the second Mountain West Athlete of the Year award for Tanner, who also earned the distinction following his junior year. He is the third Falcon to capture the honor in multiple years – Sam Gilman (2022 indoor, 2022 outdoor, 2023 indoor), Michael Rhoads (2019 indoor, 2019 outdoor) – while Mahala Norris (2021 outdoor), Jamiel Trimble (2016 outdoor) and Joey Uhle (2015 outdoor) have also earned Athlete of the Year recognition from the Mountain West.
The conference's annual honor is awarded to the best male and female student-athletes following the conclusion of the outdoor season. Student-athletes are nominated and selected by the head coaches at each member institution.
Tanner's remarkable 2026 campaign, which concluded with a runner-up finish in the hammer and a fourth-place finish in the discus at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, featured American Collegiate Records and the NCAA No. 2 all-time marks in both events (discus throw – 228'2", hammer throw – 258'9"). The first Service Academy athlete named to The Bowerman Watch List, Tanner led the NCAA in both throws during the regular season, won the hammer at the NCAA West Regional, and became the most decorated All-American in Air Force history (six) with a pair of First-Team honors in the finals.
After using Championship Meet Record performances to successfully defending his Mountain West titles in the discus and hammer for the third-straight year, Tanner was named the MW Field Performer of the Meet for the third time outdoors – and the fourth time overall. During the regular season, he also improved his own MW record in the hammer and broke a 26-year-old conference standard in the discus.
Tanner reset his own Air Force Records in the discus and hammer in 2026, while breaking an 11-year-old standard in the shot put (63'1½") to secure all five Academy standards in the rotational throws. Capturing 12 event titles in 19 competitions, while adding four runner-up finishes, Tanner became the most honored Mountain West Athlete of the Week in program history and became the first member of the Falcons' track and field program to be recognized as the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week.
It is the second Mountain West Athlete of the Year award for Tanner, who also earned the distinction following his junior year. He is the third Falcon to capture the honor in multiple years – Sam Gilman (2022 indoor, 2022 outdoor, 2023 indoor), Michael Rhoads (2019 indoor, 2019 outdoor) – while Mahala Norris (2021 outdoor), Jamiel Trimble (2016 outdoor) and Joey Uhle (2015 outdoor) have also earned Athlete of the Year recognition from the Mountain West.
The conference's annual honor is awarded to the best male and female student-athletes following the conclusion of the outdoor season. Student-athletes are nominated and selected by the head coaches at each member institution.
Players Mentioned
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