Gowans was a second-team NCAA All-American in the indoors mile (ninth overall) and an honorable mention selection outdoors in the 1,500 meters (20th overall) as a junior in 2016 and outdoors as a senior (17th overall) in 2017. He became the first Cornellian to run a sub-four-minute mile (3:58.24 at the Fastrack National Invitational in 2016). Gowans was the Heptagonal runner-up in the 1,500 meters at the 2015 outdoor Heps before finishing 13th at the NCAA East Preliminary round, then was third in the event the following year at Heps and seventh at the East regional. He also placed third in the indoor mile in 2015. Gowans took 10th at the 2016 Heps Cross Country meet to earn second-team All-Ivy honors.
