Women's The Bowerman Semifinalists Announced

June 18, 2013

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

Courtesy: ArizonaWildcats.com NCAA Championships: Is ranked No. 2 in the world in the high jump. Has won 30 of 31 high jump events – indoors and outdoors – against collegians dating back to the beginning of the 2012 indoor season and 25 straight. Owns four of the top 11 winning in-season clearances in collegiate history, two of which were set this season. Did not miss through first five heights to clinch the NCAA outdoor high jump title, and cleared 6-4¾ (1.95m) on her third attempt at the height for her final winning mark. Made three attempts at an in-season collegiate record 6-6¾ (2.00m) that would have broken her own in-season collegiate record.

This Season: Advanced as the top qualifier from the West Prelims with three clearances through 5-10½ (1.79m). Finished third at the NYC Adidas Grand Prix Diamond League Meeting the following day with a height of 6-3¼ (1.91m). Broke the in-season collegiate high jump mark with a Pac-12 championship-winning clearance of 6-6¼ (1.99m), breaking the record of 6-6 (1.98m) held by UCLA’s Amy Acuff and SMU’s Kajsa Bergqvist. Did not miss a height through her first 14 heights, passing at four others, before clearing the collegiate record on her third attempt. Won the high jump at the Arizona-Arizona State-Northern Arizona double dual meet with a clearance of 6-4¼ (1.94m), tying Amy Acuff’s (UCLA) 1995 dual meet record. Won the Mt. SAC Relays high jump at 6-2¼ (1.89m). Her 6-4¼ clearance, which she also achieved earlier in the outdoor season, is the No. 2 mark in the world outdoors in 2013.Won the Stanford Invitational high jump with a clearance of 6-4¼ (1.94m) in her only outdoor high jump of 2013. Won the NCAA Indoor high jump with a collegiate-leading 6-4¾ (1.95m) with only one miss through seven heights. Missed three attempts at the collegiate record at 6-6¼ (1.99m). Cleared a then-collegiate-leading 6-3¼ (1.91m) in her season debut at the Razorback Invitational. Won the MPSF high jump title with a clearance of 6-2 (1.88m). Finished runner-up in the Millrose Games high jump at 6-1½ (1.87m).


Tia Brooks, Oklahoma

Courtesy: SoonerSports.com
NCAA Championships: Is No. 7 in the world in the shot put. Has won 14 consecutive shot put finals dating back to the 2012 Drake Relays, including 11 straight between the 2013 indoor and outdoor seasons, and owns the top 14 collegiate throws of the outdoor season. Also Completed the sweep of the indoor/outdoor shot put titles for 2013 with a winning throw of 62-½ (18.91m) giving her the win by nearly 2½ feet, though she could have won win any of her four legal throws. Has now recorded three throws within four inches of the outdoor collegiate record, and five of the ten best in-season collegiate throws all-time.

This Season: Claimed the top qualifying spot at the NCAA finals shot put competition with two of the top three throws in outdoor collegiate history and three of the top 10. Her top throw of 62-2½ (18.96m) is the No. 2 mark all-time, just ahead of her 62-2¼ (18.95m) attempt earlier in the series. Claimed a Big 12 shot put title and a title at the Drake Relays. Won her 2013 outdoor debut at the Sun Angel Classic shot put with a mark of 61-5½ (18.73m), the No. 6 outdoor mark in collegiate history, and recorded the No. 8 (61-2/18.64m) and 9 (61-0/18.59m) marks in the same meet. Broke the collegiate shot put record with a mark of 63-¾ (19.22m) en route to win the NCAA Indoor shot put title. Became the first woman in collegiate history to surpass 63 feet. She bested Laura Gerraughty of North Carolina’s 2004 record of 62-10 (19.15m). With another mark of 62-2½ (18.96m) at the NCAA meet, she now owns three of the five best throws in collegiate history. Has won 12 of 13 shot put events dating back to the 2012 indoor season.


Kori Carter, Stanford

Courtesy: GoStanford.com
NCAA Championships: Is the world leader in the 400 hurdles and No. 8 in the 100 hurdles. Is undefeated in four finals in the 400 hurdles in 2013, and 4-1 in finals in the 100 hurdles. Broke the in-season collegiate record in the 400 hurdles en route to an NCAA title in 53.21 to defeat rival and 2012 Olympic Finalist Georganne Moline of Arizona (53.72) in the first collegiate race to feature two sub-54 runners. Became just the second woman to dip under 54 seconds during the collegiate season. Also won her semifinal heat over Moline in 54.67Q. Finished runner-up in the 100 hurdles in 12.79 (+1.7m/s).

This Season: Advanced from the West Prelims as the top national qualifier for the NCAA Finals in the 400 hurdles with a 54.50 — giving her the nation’s two fastest collegiate times of the season. Also qualified 10th nationally in the 100 hurdles at 13.16 (+0.1m/s). Defeated Moline of Arizona for the Pac-12 Championships crown with a winning time of 54.21 to Moline’s 54.54. Moved to No. 2 on the all-time in-season collegiate list in the 400 hurdles by running the fastest in-season time since the Sheena Johnson of UCLA ran a record 53.54 in 2004. Also won the Pac-12 100 hurdles title in 12.76 (+0.1m/s), giving her the second-fastest qualifying time in Division I. Defeated Moline of Arizona in her first 400 hurdles race of the 2013 outdoor season, running a 2½ second personal best 54.71 to Moline’s 54.98. Won the 100 hurdles at the Stanford Invitational in 13.28. Won the MPSF Championship at 200 meters during the indoor season and qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60 hurdles.


Emma Coburn, Colorado

Courtesy: CUBuffs.com
NCAA Championships: Ranked No. 10 in the world in the 3000 steeplechase. Won her second title in the 3000 steeplechase since 2011 — with a redshirted 2012 in between — in 9:35.38. Now owns the third- and fifth-fastest in-season steeple times in collegiate history. Ran the fastest semifinals time in 9:46.76. has not been defeated by a collegian in six events in 2013 between the mile, 1500 meters and the steeplechase.

This Season: Was the top NCAA Finals qualifier from the West Prelims in the 3000 steeplechase at 9:55.20. Finished eighth at 1500 meters at the Oxy High Performance Distance Classic in 4:06.87, placing her fifth all-time in collegiate history. Won the steeplechase at the Pac-12 Championships in a meet-record 9:55.67. Became the second collegiate woman under 9:30 in the 3000 steeplechase during a college season with a world-leading 9:28.26 win at the Payton Jordan Invitational — the third-fastest in-season performance in collegiate history. Joins former Bowerman winner Jenny Barringer (Simpson) as the only other woman to go sub-9:30 during the college season. Ran a 4:11.36 over 1500 meters at the Drake Relays 48 hours earlier, good for fifth among collegians this season. Last appeared on the post-indoor Watch List in mid-March. Became just the second collegiate woman to run two sub-4:30.00 indoor miles. Won the NCAA Indoor mile title in 4:29.91, the seventh-fastest time in indoor collegiate history. In her only other race this indoor season, she finished fourth and first among collegians in the Millrose Games’ Wanamaker Mile in 4:29.86, making her the fifth-fastest collegiate performer in the indoor mile all-time.


Abbey D’Agostino, Dartmouth

Courtesy: DartmouthSports.com
NCAA Championships: Has won or been the top collegian in 17 of her last 18 individual event finals, ranging from the 1000 to the 5000, dating back to the 2012 Mt. SAC Relays. Defended her outdoor NCAA title at 5000 meters with a 15:43.68 win powered by a strong surge on the final lap. Has now won the last three NCAA 5000 meters titles between 2012 outdoor, 2013 indoor and 2013 outdoor, making her just the seventh woman to win the indoor/outdoor 5000 in the same academic year and the fifth to win back-to-back outdoor titles (first since Lauren Fleshman of Stanford from 2001-03).

This Season: . Claimed Ivy League titles at 1500 meters in 4:11.94 and 3000 meters in 9:21.79, and ran a leg of the third-place 4×800 relay. Won the 800 in 2:08.11 at the New Balance Boston Twilight Meet. Won the Mt. SAC Relays 5000 in 15:11.35 in her 2013 outdoor debut, making her the No. 3 in-season collegiate performer of all time and the second-fastest in the world outdoors in 2013. Completed just the third 3000/5000 meters double NCAA Indoor Championship by a woman in the history of the meet, and became the first American woman to do so. Won both events by more than five seconds, running an indoor career-best and world-leading 15:28.11 at 5000 meters and 9:01.08 at 3000 meters. Finished the season ranked with the fastest time at 3000 meters, No. 2 in the mile (4:30.03), No. 3 at 5000 meters and No. 4 at 1000 meters (2:45.42.) Claimed Ivy League Indoor titles in the mile and at 5000 meters.


Kimberlyn Duncan, LSU

Courtesy: LSUSports.net
NCAA Championships: Is No. 2 in the world at 200 meters Has won 24 of her past 25 finals at 200 meters against collegians. Ran the fastest all-conditions time in the world to win her third-straight outdoor NCAA 200 meters title in 22.04w (+3.5m/s), also tying her for the fastest collegiate mark of all-time under any conditions with Dawn Sowell of LSU in 1989. Won her semifinal heat in 22.15Qw (+2.7m/s), which now stands as the sixth-fastest collegiate time under any conditions. Has now won three straight titles at 200 meters both indoors and out, a feat never before accomplished in NCAA history by either a male or female. Finished third in the 100 meters final in 11.08 (+0.9m/s), and won her semifinal heat in 11.02Qw (+2.3m/s). Also ran a leg of the sixth-place 4×100 team.

This Season: Ran an 11.05w (+3.9m/s) to tie Aurieyall Scott of UCF with the fastest qualifying time to the NCAA Finals. Won her quarterfinal heat and ran the third-fastest 200 in the East Prelims at 22.97 (+0.7m/s) to qualify third from the East and sixth overall. Also ran a leg of the top-qualifying 4×100 relay from the East Prelim. Ran a collegiate-leading 22.35 (+1.3m/s) en route to an SEC 200 meters title. Also won the 100 meters SEC title in 11.32 (+0.4m/s) after running an 11.28w (+2.2m/s) in the prelims.
Won the 200 at the LSU Battle on the Bayou in 22.82 (-0.4m/s). Won the 100 at the LSU Alumni Gold Open in 11.18 (+1.8m/s). Ran a leg of the winning sprint medley relay at the Penn Relays, winning by two seconds with a time of 3:44.26. Ranked No. 2 at 100 meters (11.06w at Texas Relays win). Won an NCAA Indoor title at 200 meters in 22.58, the ninth-fastest time in collegiate history, becoming the first sprinter – male or female – to win three straight NCAA titles indoors. Reclaimed 2013′s fastest collegiate time at 200 meters with her SEC Championship-winning 22.54, placing her fifth on the all-time indoor collegiate performers list and giving her the sixth-fastest time in indoor college history. Unbeaten in finals at 60 meters this season with an SEC Championship and the nation’s second-fastest time at 7.16.


English Gardner, Oregon

Courtesy: GoDucks.com
NCAA Championships: Is No. 3 in the world at 100 meters. Defended her title at 100 meters in 10.96 (+0.9m/s) to give her the fourth-fastest in-season time in collegiate history. In defending her title became just the fifth woman to claim consecutive titles at 100 meters, and the first since Angela Williams of USC won four straight from 1999-2002. Has only lost once in 15 career finals between the indoor 60 and outdoor 100. Also ran a leg of the fourth-place 4×100 team.

This Season: Was the top qualifier from the West Prelims at 100 meters in 11.42 (-0.8m/s) in the quarterfinals and 11.08w (+3.0m/s) in the first round. Also qualified at 200 meters at 23.34 (+0.8m/s) and as a member of the Ducks’ 4×100 and 4×400 relays.Won the 200 meter title at the Pac-12 Championships in 22.62 (+1.1m/s) and ran a leg of the Pac-12 Championship-winning 4×100 relay team. Won the elite section of the 100 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays in a world-leading 11.00 (+1.8m/s), making her the No. 6 in-season collegiate performer all-time. Ran a leg of the winning 4×400 relay team at the Penn Relays that set the Relays record with a 3:26.73, placing the team No. 10 all-time on the collegiate list. Finished runner-up at 200 meters in 23.32 (-2.1m/s) at the Oregon Pepsi Invitational. Finished runner-up at 60 meters (7.15) at the NCAA Indoor Championships and ran a leg of the 4×400 relay that clinched an Oregon team championship from the first heat. Won the Millrose Games 60 in 7.19, defeating three Olympians in her season debut in the event. Claimed the MPSF title at 60 meters in 7.24, and ran a leg of the Ducks’ victorious 4×400 relay team.


Brianna Rollins, Clemson

Courtesy: ClemsonTigers.com
NCAA Championships: Is the world leader in the 100 hurdles, holding the world’s top two times. Broke the 100 hurdles collegiate record twice in the span of 48 hours en route to an NCAA title. Won the finals in 12.39 (1.7m/s) by .4 of a second to claim her first NCAA outdoor title and surpass her own in-season collegiate record 12.47q set two days prior. Moved into a tie for No. 9 on the all-time IAAF performers list in the event, based on career-best times. Two days earlier broke Ginnie Powell of USC’s 2006 mark of 12.48 with a 12.47q (1.2m/s) to set the in-season collegiate record. Became the fourth-fastest woman in American history, and her time of 12.39 is the second-fastest by an American on US soil, trailing only Gail Devers’ 12.33 in 2000. Now owns three of the seven fastest times under all conditions in collegiate history, and collegiate records in both the 60 hurdles and 100 hurdles. Also ran a leg of the third-place 4×100 team. Finished 2013 undefeated in nine races in the 100 hurdles and eight in the 60 hurdles.

This Season: Ran the fastest time in the 100 hurdles of either the East or West Prelims, qualifying to the NCAA Finals with a quarterfinals time of 12.72 (+0.5m/s) and a first-round time of 12.72w (+2.3m/s). Also qualified as a member of Clemson’s 4×100 relay team. Became the sixth-fastest in-season collegiate performer in the 100 hurdles by running a 12.68 into a 1.5m/s headwind at the Georgia Tech Invitational. Won individual ACC titles in the 100 hurdles in 12.87 (-1.4m/s) and at 200 meters in 23.04 (+0.2m/s). Her 100 hurdles performance is the fastest wind-legal time among collegians this season, and ranks No. 5 in the world among wind-legal times. Ran the fastest collegiate 100 hurdles time of 2013 with a 12.54 (+2.1m/s) at the Texas Relays, the fifth-fastest all-conditions collegiate performance of all time and at the time the world-leader. Owns five of the top 10 times in collegiate history in the 60 hurdles and the three fastest times in the world this season, including the collegiate record of 7.78.Won an NCAA Indoor title in the 60 hurdles with a 7.79 in the finals, giving her the second-fastest time in collegiate history, and qualified with a time of 7.82, giving her the third-fastest time in collegiate history. Broke the all-time collegiate record in the 60 hurdles in her season debut, scorching to a 7.78 and becoming the first collegiate woman to dip under 7.80. Beat the previous record of 7.84 held by USC’s Virginia Powell since 2006. Owns seven of the eight fastest times in the nation this season. Claimed the ACC title in the 60 hurdles by nearly a quarter of a second with a 7.90 in the finals.


Betsy Saina, Iowa State

Courtesy: Cyclones.com
NCAA Championships: Won an NCAA outdoor title at 10,000 meters in 33:08.85 by nearly six seconds over runner-up Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton of Wichita State. Turned in a strong last couple laps to finish runner-up at 5000 meters in 15:50.26, edging out Jordan Hasay of Oregon by half a second for the No. 2 spot.

This Season: Qualified for the NCAA Finals as the top qualifier at 10,000 meters in 34:52.34 and as the fifth-fastest qualifier from the West Prelims at 5000 meters in 16:07.18. Won the 5000 at the Big 12 Championships in 15:41.64 by more than half a minute. Won the Payton Jordan Invitational 10,000 meters in 31:37.22, giving her the second-fastest time in the world for 2013 and the No. 3 in-season time in collegiate history. Made her 2013 outdoor debut with a 15:12.05 5000 meters win at the Stanford Invitational, which was at the time the fourth fastest in-season performance in collegiate history (now fifth), and stands as the third-fastest in the world for 2013. Last appeared on the Watch List in March prior to the NCAA Indoor Championships. Finished runner-up over 5000 meters at the NCAA indoor championships (15:33.66) and fourth at 3000 meters (9:07.34). Ran a collegiate-leading 15:21.66 over 5000 meters at the Iowa State Classic – the fifth-fastest all-conditions time in indoor collegiate history (oversized track). Claimed Big 12 individual titles in the mile, 3000 and 5000.


Ashley Spencer, Illinois

Courtesy: FightingIllini.com
NCAA Championships: Is ranked No. 5 in the world at 400 meters. Defended her NCAA outdoor title at 400 meters in 50.28, giving her the fifth-fastest in-season time in collegiate history and the fastest of 2013. Won her semifinal heat in 51.61Q, giving her the third-fastest qualifying time of the day. Her heat ended up producing the overall winner and third- and fourth-place finishers. Ran a leg of the fifth-place 4×400 team.

This Season: Became the collegiate leader at 400 meters with a 50.88 at the West prelims, making her the only sub-51 collegiate sprinter this season. Also qualified as a member of Illinois’ 4×400 relay team. Finished third at the NCAA indoor championships at 400 meters after winning her heat in in 52.17 and had the second-fastest prelims time at 51.55Q, again winning her heat. Won Big Ten titles outdoors at 200 and 400 meters and as a member of the 4×400 relay, and indoors in those same events. In just her second race in the 400 hurdles early in the outdoor season she posted what still stands as the seventh-fastest time among collegians in 2013 at 56.32.





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.




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U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association

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