Bougard On Final Bowerman Trophy Watch List
STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the second week in a row, senior Erica Bougard appears on The Bowerman Trophy Watch List.
Bougard is the only female Mississippi State athlete to ever appear on the watch list.
“Erica is a tough athlete,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “She works hard in everything she does. She is always going to finish strong in her events. I’m glad she is getting recognized for what she has accomplished this season.”
In May, Bougard was crowned the 2015 SEC Heptathlon Champion, where she became the fifth highest scoring athlete in NCAA history. Bougard scored 6,250 points in the event to bring home the victory, which was also an SEC meet record. She will enter nationals as the top multi athlete in the event this season.
With the outdoor track and field championships set to begin June 10, Bougard is competing in the heptathlon as well as the 100m hurdles and the high jump.
In the high jump this season, Bougard broke the MSU school record after clearing 6-00.75 at the SEC Championships.
At the NCAA East Preliminaries, Bougard ran a personal-best 12.99 in the 100m hurdles to advance to Eugene, Ore., for the championships. Her time is the second-best in MSU school history.
Another record broken by Bougard at the preliminaries was the women’s 4x400m relay. Bougard along with her teammates Ocian Archer, Shayla Luckett and Kimari Martin ran a time of 3:32.13, which also advanced MSU to nationals in the event.
The Byahlia, Miss., native is one of 10 females on the list and one of six representing the SEC.
This is the final watch list for The Bowerman Trophy this season. The women’s semifinalists will be announced on June 23.
For more information on Bourgard or the MSU track and field teams visit HailState.com and follow on Twitter (@HailStateTF).
The Bowerman Women’s Final Watch List:
Morolake Akinosun, Texas
Erica Bougard, Mississippi State
Natoya Goule, Clemson
Kendra Harrison, Kentucky
Kyra Jefferson, Florida
Sandi Morris, Arkansas
Demi Payne, Stephen F. Austin
Jenna Prandini, Oregon
Jeannell Scheper, South Carolina
Shelbi Vaughan, Texas A&M