NEW ORLEANS — Canadian sprint phenom Andre De Grasse and rising pole vault star Shawnacy Barber are among the 10 semifinalists nominated for the Bowerman Trophy as the NCAA’s best track and field athlete.
De Grasse, a native of Markham, Ont., won both the 100 and 200 metres in stunning fashion at the NCAA championships, completing a sprint double that was considered to be among the best ever.
The victories came in a season that already saw him break the Canadian 200-metre record, and become the first Canadian since Bruny Surin in 1999 to dip under 10 seconds in the 100 metres.
The 20-year-old is ranked fourth in the world in the 200 metres.
Barber, who lives in the U.S. but has dual citizenship and competes for Canada, swept the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles this past season. The Akron junior is the Canadian record-holder in the event, and has broken his own record several times this season.
The 21-year-old has the fourth highest jump in the world this season.
The three male and three female finalists will be announced next Wednesday.
Canadian high jumper Derek Drouin, bronze medallist at the London Olympics, won the Bowerman in 2013. Cam Levins, the Canadian record-holder in the 10,000 meters, won the award a year earlier.