The Bowerman Fan voting now open
November 9, 2009
Click here to vote - http://www.thebowerman.org
NEW ORLEANS – Collegiate track & field fans can cast votes for the 2009 men’s and women’s The Bowerman candidates. The voting period will remain open until November 20th, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. central daylight time. This year’s group of finalists was selected by The Bowerman Advisory Board or the B.A.B. The women’s finalists are Jenny Barringer (Colorado), Destinee Hooker (Texas), and Porcha Lucas (Texas A&M). The men’s finalists are Ashton Eaton (Oregon), German Ferandez (Oklahoma State), and Galen Rupp (Oregon).
The Bowerman Fan Vote will count for one vote of the overall final tally. The rest of the vote is determined by The Bowerman Voters, which is composed of NCAA collegiate administrators, national and regional media personnel, and track & field statisticians.
The 2009 announcement and presentation of the winner 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 and three men’s finalists will be invited to the announcement and presentation of The Bowerman.
ABOUT 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.
The inaugural award will recognize the 2009 winners of The Bowerman. The announcement and presentation of the inaugural award will be held in conjunction with the 2009 USTFCCCA Convention. The convention will be held at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida from December 14th through 17th, 2009.
You can access The Bowerman website by visiting – www.thebowerman.org.
More about the Bowerman Award
USTFCCCA Announces the Inception of The Bowerman
The Bowerman will honor the most outstanding collegiate men’s and women’s track and field athlete annually
EUGENE, Ore., June 26, 2009 – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announces the creation of an esteemed award, The Bowerman. This award will annually recognize the most outstanding collegiate men’s and women’s track and field athlete.
The inaugural award will recognize the 2009 winners of The Bowerman. The announcement and presentation of the inaugural award will be held in conjunction with the 2009 USTFCCCA Convention. The convention will be held at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida from December 14th through 17th, 2009.
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.”
Bowerman’s legacy in track and field is undeniable. He began his illustrious and famed career in Eugene as a University of Oregon quarter-miler under Hall of Fame Coach Bill Hayward. One year after Hayward’s retirement, Bowerman took over the Oregon track and field program, and led the Ducks to unprecedented success over the next 23 years. Bowerman served as Oregon’s head track and field coach from 1949-1972. He remained active at the University and in the Eugene community even as Nike®, the company he cofounded, grew into a global sports giant.
“He [Bowerman] enjoyed and appreciated the recognition of athletes who received The Heisman Trophy [in collegiate football], and felt it was a great honor for those who received it. Bill would be so pleased to have this award carry his name,” added Mrs. Bowerman.
The Bowerman will be designed by former Oregon and Bowerman-coached track and field student-athlete Tinker Hatfield, now the overseer of Nike’s® “Innovation Kitchen”. Hatfield is perhaps best known as the designer of the Air Max I and of 13 of the iconic line of Air Jordan shoes.
“When you think of Bill Bowerman, you think of excellence, you think of longevity, you think of a love of the sport and of a certain ethic toward the sport,” said USTFCCCA President Pat Henry. “To create an award in his name is to honor the brilliant legacy that Bowerman built in track & field.”
About the Selection Process
For the inaugural award, a 12-person Bowerman Advisory Board will select three male and three female finalists who will be invited to Orlando for the announcement and presentation of The Bowerman winner.
Following the selection of the finalists, a nationally representative group accounting for 100 votes, to be known collectively as The Bowerman Voters, will determine the winner of the The Bowerman.
Beginning in 2010, the Bowerman Advisory Board will maintain a “Bowerman Watch List” throughout the collegiate track and field seasons. At a specified time (to be determined), the Bowerman Advisory Board will select 15 semi-finalists in each gender for The Bowerman.
From the list of semi-finalists, The Bowerman Voters will vote for their top three selections in each gender. The top three vote-getters overall in each gender will be invited to that year’s presentation of The Bowerman. An independent firm will tabulate the votes for The Bowerman.
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 coaches. 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 lobbyist for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track and field.
