NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Bowerman Award presented by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its third watch list of the track & field season, with Coastal Carolina track & field's Melissa Jefferson receiving votes.
 
The 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor 60-meter champion earns her first mention on The Bowerman's shortlist in the receiving votes category. Jefferson becomes the first Chanticleer to garner votes for the prestigious award, while among the 10 on the list and three receiving votes, Jefferson is one of five sprinters featured on the list.
 
The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009 and is named after former University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female NCAA track & field athletes in the nation. The award will be presented in December following a voting period over the summer.
 
The Georgetown, S.C. native had a record-setting performance on day two of the conference championship meet, as the junior sprinter won the gold medal in the 60-meter dash with a CCU school and Sun Belt Conference record time of 7.22. She crossed the finish line 0.17 of a second faster than the next finisher.
 
Jefferson recorded another Sun Belt Conference and Coastal Carolina University record time of 7.09, which was also the second-fastest time in all of NCAA Division I women's indoor track & field this season.
 
Her time of 7.09 is tied for the sixth-fastest time all-time in the NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track & Field record books for the 60-meter dash.
 
Jefferson will be competing in the 4x100m and 200m at the Weems Baskin on March 25-26 held at University of South Carolina.
 
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