Track and field's Clarke named as Bowerman Semifinalist
Arizona State University track and field junior Jordan Clarke has been named as one of 10 finalists for collegiate track and field’s biggest award, The Bowerman, as announced by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), June 18.
The Bowerman is an award given annually to the top male and female collegiate track and field student-athletes, as judged by national and regional media personnel, track & field statisticians, NCAA collegiate administrators, and Presidents of affiliated organizations.
Clarke swept the NCAA shot put awards in 2012, winning both the indoor and outdoor titles with career-best throws as he established himself as one of the most clutch competitors at the Division I level. In addition to his prowess at the national level, Clarke also dominated the Pac-12 Championships as he won the shot put crown and posted a second place finish in the hammer throw and was third in the discus. Clarke’s 24 points at the competition were more than any other male competitor, garnering the Anchorage, Alaska native Pac-12 Men’s Athlete of the Meet honors.
Clarke defended his 2011 national title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, earlier this month, launching his fourth throw 20.40m (66-11.25) to win the competition by over two feet and moved to third on ASU’s all-time outdoor list in the event.
With the victory, the Sun Devils have now won the last four NCAA outdoor shot put competitions. Ryan Whiting – also the last men’s Bowerman Semifinalist for the men - went back-to-back in 2009 and 2010 before graduating and handing the crown off to Clarke in 2011. In addition, ASU has now won eight of the last 10 total shot put titles between the indoor and outdoor campaigns between Whiting and Clarke since 2008 - all under the tutelage of throws coach David Dumble.
Clarke became just the 15th individual in NCAA history since 1921 to win back-to-back outdoor shot put titles. Clarke's second title of the year is just the third for the Sun Devils in any sport during the 2011-12 season with Mason McHenry's indoor 800m crown being the other. On the entire 2012 indoor and outdoor seasons, Clarke only lost to collegiate competitors on two occasions.
Indoors, Clarke shocked the field as he launched his sixth and final throw of the competition 20.86 meters (68-05.25) to jump over Florida’s Kemal Mesic – the national leader entering the weekend – for his second national crown and first indoor first-team All-America award.
Clarke has been on the Bowerman’s list of student-athletes “also receiving mention” throughout the season but had not made the official Watch List until this week.
The Bowerman Advisory Board will now deliberate who shall be the three finalists for the award to be announced on Friday, June 29. Clarke will be taking part in the men's shot put competition at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., beginning June 23.