The University of Akron Athletics
Barber selected as semifinalist for prestigious Bowerman Award
June 22 | Track & Field
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RAISING THE BARBER WEBSITE | BOWERMAN AWARD SEMIFINALIST RELEASE
NEW ORLEANS, La. - On the heels of one of the greatest individual campaigns in the history of the Akron track and field program, junior pole vaulter Shawn Barber (Kingwood, Texas) was among 10 semifinalists named for The Bowerman Award, the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Monday, June 22. From these 10 men, three will be named Finalists for The Bowerman Trophy on July 8.
"Shawn is very deserving of this recognition," Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "He is exciting to watch and he became a big star this season. Every time we went on the road each meet tried to do something special for him so they had the best opportunity to witness him jumping high."
The honor marks the first time a student-athlete from the University of Akron and the Mid-American Conference has been named as a semifinalist for the Bowerman Award.
Barber earned his third NCAA title overall and second during the 2015 campaign on June 10 at the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore., after overcoming a broken pole to surpass 18-4.50 (5.50m) and garner first-team All-America accolades for the sixth time during his decorated career.
Perform has been an understatement for Barber this season as he won 17 of the 19 competitions he competed in, including winning outdoor titles at the Drake, Mt. Sac and Texas Relays, respectively, and owns two of the top-four jumps in the world this spring.
He shared top honors at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 29 surpassing 17-2.75 (5.25m).
He persevered through rainy conditions to capture his third consecutive Mid-American Conference outdoor championship on May 16 with a meet-record jump of 18-6.50 (5.65m).
Barber was a force this spring capturing titles eight times, including posting a then world-leading outdoor mark in 2015 en route to setting a new school-, meet and Canadian National record eclipsing 19-4.75 (5.91m) to win the pole vault invitational at the Longhorn Invitational on May 2.
One of his biggest triumphs of the campaign came at the Drake Relays where he battled Sam Kendricks down to the wire before sharing top honors with a jump of 19-1 (5.82m). The mark surpassed the previous Drake Relays' record jump set by Mark Hollis in 2007, while in the process snapping a streak of 13 consecutive wins in the pole vault by world record holder and 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Renaud Lavillenie from France.
Barber registered 17 triumphs this season, winning 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, NCAA Championship, March 13, Texas Relays, March 28, the Northeast Ohio Quad on April 3, Mt. Sac Relays, April 17, Drake Relays, April 25, the Longhorn Invitational on May 2, the MAC Championship, May 16,the NCAA East Preliminary Round and the NCAA Championship on June 10.
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 Lavillenie 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 Award Semifinalists
Shawn Barber, Jr., Pole Vault, Akron
Trayvon Bromell, So., Sprints, Baylor
Edward Cheserek, So., Distance, Oregon
Andre De Grasse, Jr., Sprints, USC
Marquis Dendy, Sr., Jumps, Florida
Conor McCullough, Sr., Throws, USC
Omar McLeod, So., Hurdles, Arkansas
Vernon Norwood, Sr., Sprints, LSU
Michael Stigler, Sr., Hurdles, Kansas
Maicel Ulbo, Jr., Multis, Georgia
