Barringer, Bowman, Hutson, and Williams Lead Record 531 Division I Women’s Track and Field Student-Athletes Honored for Achievements in Athletics, Academics

NEW ORLEANS – With nine 2009 national titles, six collegiate records, and one world record between them, four Division I student-athletes led the way as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Monday the 2009 Women’s Division I Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Scholar Athletes of the Year.

Those four student-athletes are Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete Jenny Barringer of Colorado, Indoor Track Scholar Athlete Sarah Bowman of Tennessee, Indoor Field Scholar Athlete Kylie Hutson of Indiana State, and Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete Kim Williams of Florida State.

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

An Oviedo, Florida native, Barringer earned the 2009 Division I Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year award after a record-breaking outdoor season. Barringer set collegiate records in the 1500 meters, 3000-meter steeplechase, and 5000 meters during a spectacular outdoor season. She also set three collegiate records during the 2009 indoor track and field season, in the mile, 3000 meters, and 5000 meters. Barringer followed a terrific collegiate season with a win in the steeplechase at the 2009 USA Track and Field National Championships.

A political science/economics major, Barringer has compiled a 3.564 cumulative GPA at Colorado. Barringer was named the 2009 USTFCCCA Division I Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.

Florida State’s Williams is the 2009 Division I Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year after winning the 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field titles in both the long jump and triple jump. Her 20 points made up half of Florida State’s total of 40 points, good for fourth place overall in the team standings. The sophomore from Kingston, Jamaica also won the triple jump title at the 2009 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.

A business administration major at Florida State, Williams holds a 3.285 cumulative GPA. Williams was named the 2009 USTFCCCA Division I Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

The 2009 USTFCCCA Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year, Tennessee’s Bowman had a record-setting weekend at the 2009 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in March. On Friday, she anchored the Tennessee Lady Vols distance medley relay to a world record and NCAA-winning performance of 10:50.98, a mark that broke the previous world record by 3.5 seconds. She followed that performance with another NCAA title and an NCAA meet record in the mile on Saturday. Her efforts helped lead Tennessee to the team title, only the third women’s indoor team title in school history.

Bowman, a senior from Warrenton, Virginia, boasts a 3.870 cumulative GPA in business. She was also the 2008 USTFCCCA Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Indiana State’s Hutson, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, has been named the 2009 Division I Indoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. Hutson won the 2009 NCAA Division I Indoor title in the pole vault with a clearance of 14′-3.25″ (4.35m). She is the first Sycamore female track and field athlete to win an NCAA championship since 1994. Hutson completed the pole vault sweep at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships by winning the individual title.

Only a junior, Hutson is an exercise science major with a 3.369 cumulative GPA.

DIVISION I ALL-ACADEMIC TRACK AND FIELD TEAM

In addition to the Scholar Athletes of the Year, the USTFCCCA also announced the women’s 2009 Division I All-Academic Track and Field team. A record total of 531 student-athletes representing 147 Division I institutions composed the women’s 2009 All-Academic team.

The University of Nebraska led all institutions with 19 student-athletes on the All-Academic team. Brigham Young University and the University of Oregon followed with 16 student-athletes each on the All-Academic team.

The Pacific-10 Conference led all conferences with 56 selections, with the Big 12 Conference following closely with 50 selections. The Southeastern Conference had 48 women’s student-athletes earn All-Academic honors.

The USTFCCCA honors Division I individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event.

The 2009 USTFCCCA Division I Women’s All-Academic Track and Field Team