Bougard Named South Region Field Athlete Of The Year
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Going into the NCAA Championships, Erica Bougard has received yet another award for her phenomenal outdoor season.
Behind a dominating 2015 campaign, Bougard has been named the 2015 South Region Field Athlete of the Year, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Monday.
The USTFCCCA honors each gender’s top track and field athletes and coaches from their respective regions after the preliminary rounds.
This week at the championships Bougard is set to compete in the heptathlon, the high jump and the 100m hurdles.
The Byhalia, Miss., native will begin the heptathlon at 11 p.m. PST, on Wednesday. Setting a school record and a meet record at the SEC Championships, Bougard scored 6,250 points to place first in the event. Her point total ranks fifth in NCAA history.
Also at the SEC Championships, Bougard ran a personal-best in both the heptathlon 200m dash and the 800m run. She placed first in both individual events helping to achieve her victory. Her time of 23.48 in the 200m dash ranks fourth in MSU school history.
In the heptathlon shot put at the SEC Championships, Bougard threw a personal-best 38-04.00.
At the NCAA East Preliminaries this past weekend in Jacksonville, Fla., Bougard went on to qualify for the high jump en route to securing a spot in the NCAA Championships. She had previously cleared a school record 6-00.75 in the event at this year’s SEC Championships.
Running a personal-best 12.99 in Jacksonville, Fla., Bougard earned her spot at nationals in the 100m hurdles. Her times ranks second-best in school history. Bougard’s former teammate Keisha Wallace holds the school record with a time of 12.97.
Bougard will be competing in the 100m hurdles on Thursday at 5:02 p.m., with hopes of qualifying for Saturday’s finals. The high jump will be on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Follow Bougard and the rest of the Bulldogs in the NCAA Championships at HailState.com and on Twitter (@HailStateTF)