NEW ORLEANS – University of Hawai'i high jumper
Amber Kaufman was one of 10 athletes selected to the official watch list for The Bowerman, announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The Bowerman is a recently-debuted trophy and awarded to the top male and female collegiate athlete in the sport of track and field.
Kaufman is currently tied with fellow watch-lister Liz Patterson from the collegiate lead in the high jump. Kaufman claimed a leap of 6-3¼ (1.91m) , at altitude, at New Mexico's Lobo Challenge two weeks ago.
“I'm very proud of how high Amber has jumped so far this season but what really excites me is knowing how much more she is capable of soaring,” UH head coach
Carmyn James said. “Her approach run has become more consistent and her take-off has improved tremendously but the extra height is going to come with maximizing her efficiency during the crossbar clearance. Add to the fact that Amber is a competitor with a huge desire to succeed ... the sky is the limit!”
The 10 athletes currently on the watch list includes six new names from the 10 listed in the preseason. The 10 listed represent 11 collegiate leading marks from the 2010 season, one current world and American leader, and three national records.
The Bowerman Advisory Board appointed four of its members to comprise The Bowerman Men's Watch Committee and another four of its members to make up The Bowerman Women's Watch Committee. The committee will release its next update on Tuesday, March 2, 10 days before the start of the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The three men and three women finalists will be named on June 15.
For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the recently-debuted trophy, and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org. Keep up with Bowerman candidates on the USTFCCCA's weekly results page (http://www.ustfccca.org/weekly-results) and by following the organization's twitter feed twitter.com/TheBowerman.
THE BOWERMAN OFFICIAL WATCH LIST, 2010 WOMEN
(updated Feb 9, 2010, listed in alphabetical order)
Name Yr School Event Hometown High School/Previous
Jessica Beard JR Texas A&M Sprints Euclid, Ohio Euclid HS
Queen Harrison SR Virginia Tech Hurdles Richmond, Va. Hermitage HS
Mariam Kevkhisvili SR Florida Throws Tbilisi, Georgia Varketili Secondary
Porscha Lucas SR Texas A&M Sprints Plano, Texas
Liz Patterson SR Arizona High Jump Rowlett, Texas North Garland HS
Shara Proctor SR Florida Jumps The Valley, Anguilla Albena Lake Hodge Comp.
Shelia Reid JR Villanova Distance Newmarket, Ontario Sacred Heart Catholic
Alicia Rue SR Minnesota Pole Vault Plymouth, Minn. Armstrong HS
Brianne Theisen JR Oregon Combined Events Humboldt, Saskatchewan Humboldt Collegiate Inst.
-UH-