Former Oregon track and field standout Jenna Prandini was awarded the 2015 Bowerman Trophy, collegiate track and field’s most prestigious individual honor, Thursday night.
Prandini accepted the award from former teammate and 2014 winner Laura Roesler. She beat out fellow finalists Demi Payne from Stephen F. Austin and Kendra Harrison from Kentucky.
Jenna Prandini (@J_Prandini): The Most Outstanding Female Student-Athlete In Collegiate Track & Field. #Bowerman2015 pic.twitter.com/PGKmEPAf6n
— The Bowerman (@thebowerman) December 18, 2015
“To my coaches, thank you for believing in me and pushing me every single day,” Prandini said on stage. “I wouldn’t be standing up here if it weren’t for you.”
Prandini had an impressive showing in her final year as a Duck. The junior was the most prolific NCAA Championship point scorer in NCAA history, totaling 49 points between the indoor and outdoor Championships. At indoors she won the long jump, was runner-up in the 200 meters and took fourth in the 60 meters. In the outdoor competition she claimed a victory in the 100 and took second in both the 200 and long jump.
She recorded the second-fastest time in collegiate history in the 100 (10.92) and her 200-meter time was the fourth-fastest (22.21).
Prandini’s award brings the total number of Oregon’s Bowerman Trophies to four — more than any other school in the country. She joins former winners Galen Rupp (2009), Ashton Eaton (2010) and Roesler (2014).
Fellow Duck and current Oregon junior Edward Cheserek was a finalist for the second-straight year on the men’s side. He watched as Marquis Dendy from Florida took home the Trophy on the men’s side. Cheserek is the only finalist from 2015 that will return to collegiate competition this year.
Follow Christopher Keizur on Twitter @chriskeizur
