© Copyright – 2012 – Athletics Illustrated
Black Creek, British Columbia’s Cameron Levins and Katey, Texas native Kimberlyn Duncan are the 2012 recipients of the The Bowerman. The 2012 edition was the fourth annual presentation of the award and were handed out Wednesday, December 19th to the best male and female track and field athletes in the NCAA.
The men’s finalists were Southern Utah University’s Cameron Levins, who competes in distance events, University of Florida’s Tony McQuay, sprints and relays and University of Illinois Andrew Riley, sprints and hurdles.
Duncan, a sprinter and senior-to-be was joined as a finalist on the women’s side by University of Oregon’s Brianne Theisen in multi-events and University of Arizona’s Brigetta Barrett who specializes in the high jump. This was Duncan’s second consecutive nomination for the award. Duncan attends Louisiana State University.
The Bowerman, which is now in its fourth year, is the track and field equivalent of University football’s Heisman Trophy. Named after legendary University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman, the award is given to one male and one female for their performance during the collegiate season for that calendar year.
Levins swept both the 5000, and 10000m events at the 2012 NCAA Championships. Galen Rupp who won the 2009 award was the last person to sweep both events, he was awarded The Bowerman that same year.
Duncan is the first woman in NCAA Division I history to win back-to-back indoor and outdoor national titles in the 200 meters, completing the double in 2012 after doing it as a sophomore in 2011. She was unbeaten in college in the 200m. She won six finals indoors. Duncan ran a 2012 world-best time of 22.74 seconds at the NCAA Championships and four outdoors.
The Bowerman Voters consist of national and regional media personnel, track & field statisticians, NCAA collegiate administrators, and Presidents of affiliated organizations. The Bowerman Voters represent 23 U.S. states and one U.S. territory.
In addition, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) members collectively receive one (1) vote in The Bowerman voting. Fans also collectively receive one (1) vote in The Bowerman voting.
Previous winners of the award will receive one (1) vote each in The Bowerman voting.
The independent accounting firm of Malcolm M. Dienes, L.L.C. tabulates The Bowerman ballots.
The finalists were announced June 29 by the USTFCCCA, which created the award in 2009 to recognize the nation’s premier male and female track and field athlete each season.
A nationwide panel and fans voting online select the winners after a 10-person Bowerman Advisory Board narrows a list of 10 semi-finalists to three finalists on each side.
Athletes are tracked from early January to the end of the college season in June by a Men’s Watch List Committee and Women’s Watch List Committee made up of the 10 advisory board members.
From The Bowerman Awards:
MEN
Votes received from The Bowerman Voters for male candidates shall be tabulated as follows:
1. Ballots: Each male Finalist shall receive 3 points for each “first choice” vote, 2 points for each “second choice” vote, and 1 point for each “third choice” vote.
2. Fan Voting: The top male vote-getter in the Fan Voting for The Bowerman shall receive 3 points. The second-highest male vote-getter shall receive 2 points, and the third highest male vote-getter shall receive 1 point.
3. USTFCCCA Member Voting: The top male vote-getter in the USTFCCCA Member Voting for The Bowerman shall receive 3 points. The second-highest male vote-getter shall receive 2 points, and the third highest male vote-getter shall receive 1 point.
DETERMINATION OF THE WINNER
The male Finalist with the highest point total after the tabulation of ballots, fan voting, and USTFCCCA member voting shall be declared the men’s winner of The Bowerman.
WOMEN
Votes received from The Bowerman Voters for female candidates shall be tabulated as follows:
1. Ballots: Each female Finalist shall receive 3 points for each “first choice” vote, 2 points for each “second choice” vote, and 1 point for each “third choice” vote.
2. Fan Voting: The top female vote-getter in the Fan Voting for The Bowerman shall receive 3 points. The second-highest female vote-getter shall receive 2 points, and the third highest female vote-getter shall receive 1 point.
3. USTFCCCA Member Voting: The top female vote-getter in the USTFCCCA Member Voting for The Bowerman shall receive 3 points. The second-highest female vote-getter shall receive 2 points, and the female third highest vote-getter shall receive 1 point.
DETERMINATION OF THE WINNER
The female Finalist with the highest point total after the tabulation of ballots, fan voting, and USTFCCCA member voting shall be declared the women’s winner of The Bowerman.
