Jefferson broke Dawn Sowell's 28-year-old collegiate record to win the first outdoor 200 meters national title in school history.
Jefferson Tabbed as The Bowerman Semifinalist
Wednesday, June 14, 2017 | Track and Field
Kyra Jefferson is the second women's The Bowerman semifinalist in school history, joining Mariam Kevkhishvili (2010)
NEW ORLEANS – Fifth-year senior Kyra Jefferson is one of 10 women's semifinalists for The Bowerman Award, track and field's version of the Heisman Trophy, the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Wednesday (June 14).
Three finalists for The Bowerman, track and field's highest individual honor, will be announced June 21.
Jefferson broke Dawn Sowell's 28-year-old outdoor 200 meters collegiate record (22.04 seconds, at altitude) en route to winning the first national title in school history with a time of 22.02 seconds.
The Detroit, Mich. native also became the fourth American in history to run 22.02 seconds or faster prior to turning 23 years old, joining six-time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix, three-time world champion Marion Jones, and four-time Olympic gold medalist Evelyn Ashford as the only other ones to do it.
The 4-time NCAA champion and 6-time SEC champion is the second women's The Bowerman semifinalist in school history, with 5-time NCAA champion shot putter Mariam Kevkhisvili (2010) being the other.
Here is a look at some more of Jefferson's achievements from this season:
Jefferson will be one of several Gators traveling to Sacramento for the United States Track and Field Outdoor Championships. The four-day meet, held June 22-25, determines who will represent Team USA at August's IAAF World Championships in London.
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.@kyruhjeff checking @thebowerman semifinalist list like... ???????
— Gators T & F and XC (@GatorsTF) June 14, 2017
Congrats, KJ! #GoGators
??: https://t.co/IPNdy8lY1o pic.twitter.com/QTb8FK8Hba
Three finalists for The Bowerman, track and field's highest individual honor, will be announced June 21.
Jefferson broke Dawn Sowell's 28-year-old outdoor 200 meters collegiate record (22.04 seconds, at altitude) en route to winning the first national title in school history with a time of 22.02 seconds.
The Detroit, Mich. native also became the fourth American in history to run 22.02 seconds or faster prior to turning 23 years old, joining six-time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix, three-time world champion Marion Jones, and four-time Olympic gold medalist Evelyn Ashford as the only other ones to do it.
The 4-time NCAA champion and 6-time SEC champion is the second women's The Bowerman semifinalist in school history, with 5-time NCAA champion shot putter Mariam Kevkhisvili (2010) being the other.
Here is a look at some more of Jefferson's achievements from this season:
- Largest margin of victory in the NCAA Outdoors 200 meters final since 1992 (0.37 seconds)
- SEC Outdoor Championships 200 meters gold medalist
- NCAA Outdoor Championships 4x100 relay bronze medalist
- Helped the Gators to the second-fastest time in school history and 10th-fastest time in NCAA Outdoor Championships history (42.73 seconds)
- SEC Outdoor Championships 4x400 relay silver medalist
- NCAA Outdoor Championships 4x400 relay sixth-place finisher
- Became first woman in school history and eighth woman in SEC history to win multiple SEC Outdoor 200 meters titles
- Became the seventh woman in SEC history to win the SEC Outdoor 200 meters the year after winning the SEC Outdoor 100 meters
- Jefferson won the SEC Outdoor 200 in 2015 and 2017, along with the SEC Outdoor 100 in 2016
- Became the fifth woman in school history to win four national titles, joining five-time champions Mariam Kevkshivili and Nekita Beasley, along with four-time champions Nekita Beasley and Anita Howard
- Jefferson won the indoor 200 meters (2015), outdoor 200 meters (2017), and helped Florida's 4x100 and 4x400 relays to titles in 2015
Caught up today w/Florida sprinting phenom (and NCAA 200m champ) @kyruhjeff. She 'trusted the process.' #Gators https://t.co/gt8LghaVoC
— Chris Harry (@GatorsChris) June 14, 2017
Jefferson will be one of several Gators traveling to Sacramento for the United States Track and Field Outdoor Championships. The four-day meet, held June 22-25, determines who will represent Team USA at August's IAAF World Championships in London.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators; #PushTheButton; #TheMissionContinues
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