Marquis Dendy Tabbed a Semifinalist for The Bowerman Trophy
Monday, June 22, 2015 | Track and Field
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- It's only fitting one of the best jumpers in collegiate history, and in the world, be recognized as one of 10 semifinalists for The Bowerman Trophy, announced Monday afternoon. For the second straight season, Florida senior jumper Marquis Dendy is a top-10 semifinalist for track and field's highest individual honor.
Dendy makes eight University of Florida men's semifinalists in the history of The Bowerman, a nation-leading tally.
Of the 10 semifinalists, three finalists will be announced on July 8 before voting -- including an online fan vote -- opens July 27. The winner of collegiate track & field's highest individual honor will be announced December 17 at the annual U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Convention in San Antonio.
One of the most decorated jumpers ever, Dendy notched six of his seven national titles in the last three consecutive NCAA Championships. He owns both the long and triple jump school records indoors, and top honors in school history in the triple jump outdoors.
Dendy is both the indoor and outdoor 2015 USTFCCCA National Field Athlete of the Year and has the second-best all-conditions long jump in the world this year, the third-best all-conditions triple-jump performance in the world entering the USA Outdoor Championships this week at Hayward Field in Eugene.
2015 BOWERMAN TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS | The Bowerman Trophy Semifinalist Complete Release
Shawn Barber, Akron*
Trayvon Bromell, Baylor
Edward Cheserek, Oregon
Andre De Grasse, Southern California
Marquis Dendy, Florida
Conor McCullough, Southern California
Omar McLeod, Arkansas*
Vernon Norwood, LSU
Michael Stigler, Kansas*
Maicel Uibo, Georgia*
* First men's Semifinalist for school
READ: Dendy Finishes Career in Rarefied Air
WATCH: Dendy Triple Jump Highlights and Comments
WATCH: Dendy Long Jump Highlights and Comments
DENDY CAREER SNAPSHOT
Dendy finished his collegiate career last weekend with seven national titles, 13 All-America honors and seven Southeastern Conference Championships between the long and triple jump events. He's swept both at every championship meet since 2014 NCAA Outdoors, including 2015 SEC and NCAA Indoors, SEC and NCAA Outdoors. In addition, the Middletown, Del., product was the 2015 USTFCCCA Indoor and Outdoor National Field Athlete of the Year and the SEC and USTFCCCA Outdoor Regional Field Athlete of the Year.
DENDY NCAA RECAP
Dendy racked up the sixth and seventh national titles of his career and Florida's 60th and 61st national title in program history with his horizontal jumps sweep. The Gator men's track and field program finished as the national runner-up at Hayward Field with 56 points behind host Oregon (85).
Florida has seven straight top-three finishes on the men's side outdoors, and has been second or better six of those years. Dendy grabbed UF's 60th and 61st national titles, half of which (13 indoor, 17 outdoor) have come since head coach Mike Holloway took over the program in 2008. The Gators' 56 points were the second-most in Holloway's tenure with the men's program. By the way, Dendy's triple jump title made it six straight TJ titles for the Orange and Blue outdoors. Dendy paced the Gators' squad with 20 points towards UF's 56.
Dendy had incredible marks that were unprecedented among collegians, wind-aided or not. The Florida senior won both the long jump and triple jump, ending his collegiate career with seven NCAA titles. That number includes six in his last three national meets, where he swept both horizontal jumps.
His outdoor long jump win was a little dramatic that his indoor one -- where he finished first by just a centimeter. On his third jump of the night, he soared 8.43 meters (27 feet, 8 inches) for a comparatively easy winning margin of nine centimeters. Only seven collegians have ever jumped farther, regardless of wind.
Dendy brought the drama to Hayward Field on the final night of the men's championships in the triple. He was dominating in the event -- three of his first four jumps would have been good enough to win a national title. After Texas A&M's Latario Collie took his sixth and final jump, Dendy knew he had the event clinched. With only one jump left in college and no concerns about fouling, Dendy went for a huge jump and got it. He hopped, skipped, and jumped 17.71m (58-1.25) and ended his collegiate career as the third best all-conditions triple jumper in NCAA history.
The senior won both jumps at the SEC championships and was undefeated outdoors in the triple jump.
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