The University of Akron Athletics
Barber named to April Watch List for Bowerman Award
April 15 | Track & Field
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NEW ORLEANS, La. - In the midst of a stellar campaign for the Akron track and field team, two-time NCAA Champion junior pole vaulter Shawn Barber (Kingwood, Texas) was among those included on the 10-member April Watch List for The Bowerman Award, the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced.
Perform has been an understatement for Barber this season as he has won every competition he has entered en route to clearing 19-0 feet (5.80m) in all but two meets.
Barber picked up where he left off in the indoor campaign posting a world-leading outdoor mark in 2015 en route to setting a new school-, meet and Canadian National record eclipsing 19-4.25 (5.90m) to win the pole vault invitational at the Texas Relays on March 28. He also won the pole vault competition at the Northeast Ohio Quad on April 3.
Barber owns 11 triumphs this season, having won the Texas Expo Vault, Jan. 3, Akron Pole Vault Convention, Jan. 9, in the Zips' dual meet victory past Kent State on Jan. 16, Armory Track Invitational, Jan. 31, Akron Invitational, Feb. 7, Tyson Invitational, Feb. 14, Zips Invitational, Feb. 20, the MAC Championship, Feb. 28, Texas Relays, March 28 and the Northeast Ohio Quad on April 3.
He capped his indoor campaign in style capturing his second consecutive NCAA title with a collegiate- and meet-record jump of 19-4.75 (5.91m) at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship in Fayetteville, Ark. His winning clearance on his final attempt broke not only his own collegiate record but also set a new NCAA Championship meet standard besting Jacob Davis' record of 19-2.25 (5.85m) set in 1999.
He was one of only two collegians to surpass 19-0 feet this season trailing only 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Renaud Lavillenie of France on the 2015 world leaderboard.
Barber captured his third consecutive Mid-American Conference Indoor title with a jump of 19-0.25 (5.80m) on Feb. 28 in Mount Pleasant, Mich., a mark that shattered his own league meet record.
Barber began the month of February stealing the show at the Akron Invitational with a jump of 19-3.5 (5.88m) that broke the all-time collegiate indoor pole vault record of 19-2.25 (5.85m) set by Jacob Davis of Texas on March 6, 1999 in Indianapolis, Ind. The mark also shattered Barber's Stile Athletics Field House record set at the Akron Pole Vault Convention on Jan. 10, as well as his own Canadian National record (19-3) set at the Texas Expo Vault on Jan. 3.
A week later at the Tyson Invitational on Feb. 14, Barber again set a new school and collegiate record in the pole vault, surpassing 19-4.25 (5.90m) to win his sixth competition of the season. Barber cleared the height on his second attempt after passing at 19-0.25 (5.80m) and 19-2.25 (5.85m).
He then eclipsed 19-0.25 (5.80m) to win the Zips Invitational, Feb. 20.
Barber became the first athlete in Mid-American Conference history to be named to the 10-person list for the men or women with his selection a year ago. The Bowerman Trophy, which was first awarded in 2009, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track and field athletes in the nation.
Barber received mention for The Bowerman Watch List as a true freshman in 2013.
Past winners include Olympic gold medalist, World Champion and decathlon world-record holder Ashton Eaton (2010), 10,000-meter Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp (2009), 2011 IAAF World Champion at 1500 meters Jenny Simpson (2009), 2013 100-meter hurdles World Champion Brianna Rollins (2013) and 2012 Olympic high jump bronze medalist Derek Drouin (2013).
In total, the winners from the award's first five years have won two Olympic Medals, two World Championships and six World Championships medals. When considering finalists for the award, 13 individuals have earned a combined six Olympic medals, four World Championships and 17 World Championships medals.
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.
The Bowerman April Men's Watch List
Shawn Barber, Jr., Pole Vault, Akron
Trayvon Bromell, So., Sprints, Baylor
Edward Cheserek, So., Distance, Oregon
Ryan Crouser, Sr., Throws, Texas
Marquis Dendy, Sr., Jumps, Florida
Eric Jenkins, Sr., Distance, Oregon
Omar McLeod, So., Hurdles, Arkansas
Anthony Rotich, Sr., Distance, UTEP
Garrett Scantling, Sr., Multis, Georgia
Michael Stigler, Sr., Hurdles, Kansas
Also receiving votes: JaCorian Duffield, Sr., High Jump, Texas Tech; Edward Kemboi, Sr., Mid-Distance, Iowa State; Deon Lendore, Sr., Sprints, Texas A&M; Michael Lihrman, Sr., Throws, Wisconsin; Hayden Reed, Fr., Throws, Alabama; Bralon Taplin, Sr., Sprints, Texas A&M.
Players Mentioned
