The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Okolo among finalists for The Bowerman Trophy
12.15.2014 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Texas sprinter up for top award in collegiate track and field
The Bowerman Homepage | Live Webcast (7:25 p.m. CT, Dec. 17)
AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday night the most prestigious award in collegiate track and field will be awarded, and Texas sprinter Courtney Okolo will be among the finalists.
The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association will present The Bowerman to the top male and female track and field student-athlete in Phoenix at the annual award ceremony held during the organization's convention. The red carpet ceremony is set for 7:25 p.m. Central from the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, with the award presentation to follow. The event will also be webcast live on YouTube with a link provided at texassports.com and TheBowerman.org.
Okolo is one of three finalists for the women's award and earned her nomination with an impressive 2014 campaign on the track. She became the fastest woman in collegiate history in the 400 meters when she set a new NCAA record of 50.03 seconds at the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May. She also helped guide the Longhorns to team titles both indoors and out in the Big 12.
The other female finalists are Laura Roesler of Oregon and Sharika Nelvis of Arkansas State. The men's finalists are Edward Cheserek of Oregon, Lawi Lalang of Arizona and Deon Lendore of Texas A&M.
Okolo earned five first team All-America certificates from USTFCCCA last season for her efforts. Okolo finished fourth in the 400 meters at the indoor NCAA championship meet and ran on the 4x400 meter relay that took second. She carried her championship caliber performances over to the outdoor season earning All-American status in winning the 400 and helping claim the 4x400 title. She also ran a leg of the 4x100 meter relay that finished third.
The outdoor 4x400 team set an NCAA championship meet record with a time of 3:24.21 with Okolo running the anchor leg. It also was the No. 2 time in collegiate history, trailing another time run by a group of Longhorns in 2004.
In total, Okolo helped Texas score 39 points in her respective events at NCAA championship meets indoor and outdoor combined during the 2013-14 season.
Okolo also ran a leg on the 4x400 team that won and set a new meet record at the prestigious Penn Relays, one of the longest running track and field meets in the nation held annually.
Created in 2009, The Bowerman is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track and field athletes in the nation and has been called by some "The Heisman Trophy of Track and Field."
Since the award's inception, the USTFCCCA has recognized a number of athletes who are among the best in the world today. Past winners and finalists combined to win six medals at the 2012 London Olympics. Former winners and finalists for The Bowerman also currently hold 20 national records.
The award is named after Bill Bowerman, legendary former coach of the Oregon Ducks and co-founder of Nike.
The award is voted upon by dozens of media members, statisticians and college administrators. An online fan vote held this summer also accounts for one vote in the scoring, and all past 10 winners receive a vote. Each voter ranks the finalists in order, allotting three points to their first choice, two points to their second and one point to their third.
Players Mentioned
