Bougard Named To The Bowerman Trophy Watch List
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Multi-event athlete Erica Bougard continues to make history at Mississippi State as she has been the first-ever female athlete to be named to The Bowerman Women’s Watch List.
“This is unbelievable,” Bougard said. “I never imagined anything like this before. It feels great to even be considered.”
The Bowerman Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding track and field male and female collegiate athletes by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
This past weekend at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships Bougard was crowned the 2015 SEC Heptathlon Champion after breaking four meet records. On her home track, she scored 6,250 points, the most points scored in championship history and is the fifth-best NCAA performance ever in the event.
Her championship performance moved Bougard to No. 1 in the country in the event this season. Bougard’s point total secured her a spot in the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., in July.
Bougard set three other meet records during the heptathlon. With a personal and MSU fourth-best run of 23.48 in the 200m dash, Bougard was able to win the event and earn 1,031 points toward her total.
Bougard also set the heptathlon meet record and MSU school record in the high jump after clearing 6-00.75 to finish first. Her third meet record came in the heptathlon long jump when she tied her personal best with a leap of 20-11.75.
With the conclusion on the heptathlon, Bougard went on to place third in the 100m hurdles with a mark of 13.02, the second-fastest time in school history.
Bougard is one of 10 females who made the list, including six athletes from the SEC.
Prior to making her trip to Oregon for the national championships, Bougard will be participating in the NCAA East Preliminaries in Jacksonville, Fla., May 28-30.
For additional information on Bougard and the MSU track and field teams visit HailState.com and follow on Twitter (@HailState.com). Information on The Bowerman Trophy can be found at TheBowerman.org and on Twitter (@TheBowerman).
The Bowerman Women’s Watch List
Erica Bougard, Mississippi State
Remona Burchell, Alabama
Kendra Harrison, Kentucky
Natoya Goule, Clemson
Sandi Morris, Arkansas
Courtney Okolo, Texas
Demi Payne, Stephen F. Austin
Jenna Prandini, Oregon
Jeannelle Scheper, South Carolina
Shelbi Vaughan, Texas A&M