

Women’s The Bowerman Semifinalists Announced
NEW ORLEANS – Seemingly no collegiate record was safe in Eugene, Ore., at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships more than a week ago. Leading the charge? None other than the members of the semifinalists list for The Bowerman, which was released by the Bowerman Watch List Committee Tuesday.
These final ten women up for consideration to win the sport’s most prestigious award combined for three collegiate records; an all-time, all-conditions collegiate best; and two other near-misses at collegiate records — not to mention 10 individual event titles between them.
Clemson’s Brianna Rollins and Stanford’s Kori Carter both left Eugene with their names next to the collegiate records in the 100 and 400 hurdles, respectively, while reigning The Bowerman winner Kimberlyn Duncan tied the all-time, all-conditions mark at 200 meters in her historic three-peat win. Arizona’s Brigetta Barrett and Oklahoma’s Tia Brooks also neared the collegiate records in their respective events: the high jump and shot put.
Joining those five on the list of semifinalists are Colorado’s Emma Coburn, Dartmouth’s Abbey D’Agostino, Oregon’s English Gardner, Iowa State’s Betsy Saina, and Illinois’ Ashley Spencer.
From that group of ten, the three finalists will be announced July 10. Voting for the final winner — including an online fan vote — will take place from late July to mid-August. The ultimate winner will be revealed at the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Convention in December.
Two of the collegiate records came courtesy of Rollins, who in two races broke the existing record in the 100 hurdles twice in the span of about 48 hours. It was a great weekend for collegiate hurdlers, as Rollins’ records on Thursday and Saturday bookended Friday’s 400 hurdles collegiate record set by Carter, who also finished runner-up to Rollins in both of her historic 100 hurdles races.
Later Saturday afternoon following Rollins’ performance, Duncan tied the fastest all-conditions time at 200 meters of any collegian all-time, though she did so with the aid of a favorable wind.
After a collegiate season in which they were the only two members of the Watch List to appear in every edition, Duncan and Barrett become just the second and third three-time semifinalists for the award, joining Oregon’s Brianne Theisen.
Making their second straight appearances as semifinalists are Brooks, Gardner and Spencer, while Coburn appears for the second time in her career dating back to 2011. For Gardner, she brings Oregon’s total all-time semifinalist count to six, most among women’s programs. In addition to Theisen’s three appearances, Jordan Hasay also made the semifinalist list in 2011.
Carter, Rollins and D’Agostino are all first-time semifinalists. D’Agostino’s presence among the semifinalists marks the first appearance by an Ivy League student-athlete in the final 10 candidates.
THE BOWERMAN WOMEN’S SEMIFINALISTS
(Updated June 18, 2013. Listed in alphabetical order by last name.)
NAME | YEAR | SCHOOL | EVENTS | HOMETOWN |
Brigetta Barrett | SR | Arizona | High Jump | Wappingers Falls, N.Y. |
Tia Brooks | RS SR | Oklahoma | Throws | Grand Rapids, Mich. |
Kori Carter | JR | Stanford | Hurdles | Claremont, Calif. |
Emma Coburn | SR | Colorado | Distance | Crested Butte, Colo. |
Abbey D’Agostino | JR | Dartmouth | Distance | Topsfield, Mass. |
Kimberlyn Duncan | SR | LSU | Sprints | Katy, Texas |
English Gardner | JR | Oregon | Sprints | Voorhees, N.J. |
Brianna Rollins | RS JR | Clemson | Hurdles | Miami, Fla. |
Betsy Saina | RS SR | Iowa State | Distance | Eldoret, Kenya |
Ashley Spencer | SO | Illinois | Sprints | Indianapolis, Ind. |
QUICKLY – THE SEMIFINALISTS
Brigetta Barrett, Arizona
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Tia Brooks, Oklahoma
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Kori Carter, Stanford
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Emma Coburn, Colorado
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Abbey D’Agostino, Dartmouth
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Kimberlyn Duncan, LSU
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English Gardner, Oregon
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Brianna Rollins, Clemson
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Betsy Saina, Iowa State
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Ashley Spencer, Illinois
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ABOUT THE BOWERMAN
The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track & field athletes in the nation.
Southern Utah’s Cam Levins and LSU’s Kimberlyn Duncan are the reigning winners of The Bowerman, which is named for legendary Oregon track & field and cross country coach Bill Bowerman.
Past winners include Olympic gold medalist and decathlon world-record holder Ashton Eaton (2010), 10,000-meter Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp (2009), and 2011 IAAF World Champion at 1500 meters, Jenny Simpson (2009).
Bowerman served the sport of track and field in numerous ways. His leadership in the USTFCCCA’s predecessor organization, the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track and field and the running community as a whole are among his many lasting legacies.
For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the trophy and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org.
ABOUT THE USTFCCCA
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents over 8,000 coaching members encompassing 94% of all NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA as well as a number of state high school coaches associations. The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a lobbyist for coaches’ interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.