In 2009 the USTFCCCA announced the first ever Bowerman Awards, where the top collegiate athletes would be honored with the most prestigious award in track & field for their performances throughout the year. The female nominees during the first year of the award were Destinee Hooker (Texas), Porscha Lucas (Texas A&M) and Jenny Barringer (Colorado). The male nominees included Ashton Eaton (Oregon), German Fernandez (Okalahoma State) and Galen Rupp (Oregon). In the end, both Barringer and Rupp beat out a world class field of athletes for the honor, and would continue on to earn medals in world championship and Olympic competition. 

Jenny (Barringer) Simpson, Colorado

She would later go on to become a world champion in the 1500m, but back in the day Jenny (Barringer) Simpson, crushed the competition while wearing a Colorado uniform. During her senior year in 2009, Simpson set two indoor and three outdoor collegiate records on the track along with two NCAA and two Big 12 titles. She set all-time collegiate bests in three events over the span of five weeks, which included her 15:01 5k performance, a record in the mile (4:25) and a record the 3k (8:42). She went on to break her own collegiate steeplechase record twice, defend her NCAA title in the event, and record an outdoor 5k collegiate record. 

Watch Simpson's last interview before winning the Bowerman award in 2009:

Galen Rupp, Oregon

The Olympic silver medalist started off his historic career while attending the University of Oregon, where he pulled off an individual double-double at the indoor and outdoor NCAA championships in 2009. Rupp posted an indoor American and collegiate record in the 5k (13:18) and went on to help Oregon to an indoor team title by earning 22.5 points for the Ducks. Rupp also clocked one of the most impressive performances in NCAA history during the outdoor 5k. He was stepped on in the beginning of the race, stopped to put his shoe back on, and proceeded to win by three seconds. 

Watch Rupp's post race interview after winning the 5k at the 2009 NCAA outdoor championships: 



Tune into the LIVE stream of the Bowerman Awards tonight at 7:25 CT.