The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Tara Davis named finalist for 2021 Honda Sport Award for Track & Field
06.14.2021 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Davis is the 11th Longhorn to be named a finalist for the award and first since 2016.
AUSTIN, Texas – University of Texas Track & Field standout Tara Davis is one of four finalists for the 2021 Honda Sport Award for Track & Field, as announced Monday by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
Davis had a historic, record-setting 2021 season in the long jump. She captured both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championship titles this season, becoming the first woman in Longhorn history to win an NCAA Outdoor long jump title, and the first Longhorn man or woman to sweep the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor crowns. In addition, she established both the indoor and outdoor collegiate records in the event, setting the women's indoor collegiate record with an NCAA title-winning jump of 6.93m/22-9 at the NCAA Indoor Championships, then breaking Jackie Joyner-Kersee's 36-year-old outdoor collegiate record with a mark of 7.14m/23-5.25 at the Texas Relays.
A native of Agoura Hills, Calif., she helped lead Texas to the Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Championship crowns and was a Big 12 Outdoor Champion in both the 100m hurdles and long jump. Davis is a five-time USTFCCCA All-American and four-time selection to The Bowerman Watch List and tied the Big 12 record with three Women's Outdoor Athlete of the Week honors (3/31, 4/28, 5/5)in 2021. This year, she posted four of the top six jumps in collegiate outdoor history and finished her season with 12 of the 20 longest outdoor jumps in school history, including the nine longest on record by a Longhorn.
Davis is the 11th Longhorn to be named a finalist and first since Courtney Okolo won the award in 2015-16. She is joined by fellow finalists Anna Cockrell of USC and teammates Tyra Gittens and Athing Mu of Texas A&M University.
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 45 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies "the best of the best in collegiate athletics." The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2021 Honda Cup, which will be presented on a telecast on CBS Sports Network, on June 28, at 8 p.m. CT. The nominees were chosen by a panel of experts representing the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The CWSA, celebrating its 45th anniversary year, has honored the nation's top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs.
Players Mentioned
