AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron sophomore Shawn Barber, who became the school’s first male individual NCAA Champion in the pole vault last weekend, has been named to the The Bowerman Men’s Watch List, the U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced recently.
Barber is the first athlete in Mid-American Conference history to be named to the 10-person list for the men or women. The Bowerman Trophy, which was first awarded in 2009, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track & field athletes in the nation.
With a winning clearance of 18-10.25 (5.75m), Barber smashed his own Canadian National record and bested last year’s outdoor champion Sam Kendricks of Ole Miss in a thrilling dual at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. A dual citizen, Barber became the Zips fourth individual national champion overall and the third from the track & field program.
Barber received mention for The Bowerman Watch List as a true freshman in 2013. more
