Mason Finley Named To Preseason Bowerman Watch List
Jan. 12, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
The Bowerman Men’s Watch Committee in conjunction with the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) gave their first look at the 2011 male contenders for The Bowerman – collegiate track & field’s biggest and best award with Kansas sophomore thrower Mason Finley being named to the list.
Finley staked claim as the next collegiate throwing phenom in 2010 with runner-up showings in the shot put and discus at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing second to only Bowerman finalist Ryan Whiting in both events. Finley also topped highly competitive fields in winning the shot put-discus double at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.
With all three finalists from the 2010 season graduating, a fresh new crop will be among those vying for the award over the next several months. The watch list includes three out-right sophomores and 2009 finalist German Fernandez.
Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson returns to the watch list for a record ninth time. Anderson, along with 2010 finalists Ashton Eaton and Ryan Whiting, was on the award’s watch lists for each of the updates last year.
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 their next men’s update on Tuesday, February 9. The three men and three women finalists will be named in late June.
THE BOWERMAN OFFICIAL WATCH LIST, PRESEASON 2011 MEN
(updated January 12, 2011, listed in alphabetical order)
NAME YEAR SCHOOL EVENTS HOMETOWN
Jeshua Anderson SR WashingtonState Hurdles Woodland Hills, Calif.
Robby Andrews SO Virginia Distance Englishtown, N.J.
Sam Chelanga SR Liberty Distance Nairobi, Kenya
Charles Clark SR Florida State Sprints Virginia Beach, Va.
Jeff Demps SO/JR Florida Sprints Winter Garden, Fla.
German Fernandez JR/SO Oklahoma State Distance Riverbank, Calif.
Mason Finley SO Kansas Throws Salida, Colo.
Walter Henning SR LSU Throws Kings Park, N.Y.
Kirani James SO Alabama Sprints Gouyave, Grenada
Christian Taylor JR Florida Jumps Fayetteville, Ga.