Barringer, Hooker, and Lucas Named Women’s Bowerman Finalists

Barringer, Hooker, and Lucas Named Women’s Bowerman Finalists
2009 marks the inauguration of The Bowerman, presented to the top NCAA collegiate track & field athlete



October 8, 2009



NEW ORLEANS (USTFCCCA.org) – The Bowerman Advisory Board announced on Thursday the three women’s finalists for The Bowerman, an award which will recognize annually the most outstanding collegiate women’s track and field athlete. The 2009 finalists are Colorado’s Jennifer Barringer, Texas’ Destinee Hooker, and Texas A&M’s Porscha Lucas.



“As a former coach, I am pleased there is such an honor for women in the sport of collegiate track & field. This award provides a great opportunity to highlight the achievements of some of the most talented athletes in collegiate sports,” said Alfreeda Goff, Vice-Chairman of the Bowerman Advisory Board and Senior Associate Commissioner of the Horizon League.



The three women’s finalists were selected by the ten-member Bowerman Advisory Board, which is comprised of NCAA collegiate administrators, national and regional media personnel, and track & field statisticians. The Bowerman is administered by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).



“I would like to thank the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for having the foresight to create such a prestigious award for collegiate track & field athletes. The Bowerman is an excellent way to recognize the talented young men and women who participate in track & field, as well as to honor one of the all-time great track & field coaches, Bill Bowerman,” said Herman Frazier, Chairman of the Bowerman Advisory Board and Senior Associate Athletic Director at Temple University.



The 2009 announcement and presentation of The Bowerman will be held on December 16th in conjunction with the 2009 USTFCCCA Convention at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. The three women’s finalists will be invited to the announcement and presentation of The Bowerman.



The Bowerman is named in honor of track and field pioneer Bill Bowerman, who served the sport of track and field in numerous ways, including his leadership in the USTFCCCA predecessor organization the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track and field and the running community as a whole.



“Our family is greatly honored by this distinguished award that gives recognition to a student-athlete for their abilities and performance in track and field,” said Barbara Bowerman, wife of the late Bill Bowerman. “Bill always felt that the achievements of the athletes on the athletic fields should be recognized in a most meaningful way.”



A ballot consisting of the three finalists will be sent in early November to The Bowerman Voters who will rank their selections for The Bowerman. Fans and USTFCCCA members will also be able to vote online as part of the national voting process.



An independent firm will collect and tabulate the votes to determine the women’s 2009 winner of The Bowerman.



ABOUT THE WOMEN’S FINALISTS



JENNIFER BARRINGER – UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

Barringer, an Oviedo, Florida native, set outdoor collegiate records in the 1,500 meters, the 5,000 meters, and the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Her time in the 3,000 meter steeple was an NCAA collegiate outdoor championship meet record and gave her the NCAA outdoor title in the event. Barringer also set three collegiate records indoors in the mile, the 3,000 meters, and the 5,000 meters. She won the NCAA indoor national title in the 3,000 meters, breaking the NCAA meet record in the process. Overall, Barringer was undefeated in collegiate competition in 2009. Barringer was named the 2009 USTFCCCA Women’s Division I Indoor National Track Athlete of the Year and the 2009 USTFCCCA Women’s Division I Outdoor National Track Athlete of the Year.



DESTINEE HOOKER – UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

Hooker, from San Antonio, Texas, won both the indoor and outdoor Division I NCAA national titles in the high jump in 2009. She set a new collegiate and meet record at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the high jump, clearing 1.98m (6’6”). She also won Big 12 high jump titles at the indoor conference meet and outdoor conference meet in 2009, breaking both meet records in the process. Hooker only suffered one defeat over the course of the 2009 indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons, registering a total of 10 wins over the course of both seasons. She was honored as the 2009 USTFCCCA Women’s Division I Indoor National Field Athlete of the Year.



PORSCHA LUCAS – TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Lucas, a native of Plano, Texas, won the 200 meters, finished fourth in the 100 meters, and ran on the 4x100 meter relay team that broke the collegiate record at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She also picked up Big 12 titles outdoors in the 200 meters and the 4x400 meter relay, and finished as runner-up in the 100 meters. During the 2009 indoor season, Lucas won Big 12 titles in the 200 meters and the 4x400 meter relay, and finished third in the 60 meters. At indoor championships, Lucas finished second in the 200 meters, eighth in the 60 meters, and ran on the winning 4x400 meter relay team. Lucas was honored as the 2009 USTFCCCA Women’s Division I Outdoor South Central Region Track Athlete of the Year.



About the USTFCCCA
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is the non-profit professional organization that represents men's and women's cross country and track and field coaches in the United States. The organization represents over 8,000 coaching members, including 91% of NCAA track and field programs. USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track and field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a representative for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track and field.