The Bowerman Awards

Bowerman Winners Ranked: Who's been better Jenny or Galen?

Bowerman Winners Ranked: Who's been better Jenny or Galen?

There have been 12 Bowerman Award winners with the 13th and 14th winners to be announced LIVE Thursday December 17th. We decided to take a look back at the

Dec 17, 2015 by Gordon Mack
Bowerman Winners Ranked: Who's been better Jenny or Galen?
There have been 12 Bowerman Award winners with the 13th and 14th winners to be announced LIVE Thursday December 17th. We decided to take a look back at the 12 winners and see who has been the best since winning the track version of the Heisman Trophy.

#12 Laura Roesler (Oregon)


Laura Roesler's first year as a Bowerman alum was struck with injury. Thus, Laura comes in at number 12 due to having virtually no post-bowerman resume.

Laura Roesler's Post Bowerman Resume:

2015: No Notable Performances


#11 Ngoni Makuska (Florida State)


The star sprinter/jumper out of Florida State has been silent for the past four years. Ngoni was a machine while in college but since then has not managed to make a single World Championship final.

Ngoni Makuska's Post Bowerman Resume:
2012: No Notable Performances
2013: No Notable Performances
2014: No Notable Performances
2015: No Notable Performances


#10 Deon Lendore (Texas A&M)


Lendore looked to be unstoppable as a senior at Texas A&M, however injuries prevented him from winning any NCAA titles in 2015. Lendore managed to end his season on a high note with a win at the FloTrack Throwdown and a silver medal in the World Championship 4x400m relay.

Deon Lendore's Post Bowerman Resume:
2015: 5th NCAA Outdoor Championships (4x100m Relay); 2nd IAAF World Outdoor Championships (4x400m Relay)

#9 Jessica Beard (Texas A&M)


Jessica Beard has yet to win a national title since winning the Bowerman in 2011. However, Beard still remains a top three threat having finished in the top seven at the National Championships the past four years.

Jessica Beard's Post Bowerman Resume:
2012: 7th U.S. Olympic Team Trials (400m)
2013: 5th USATF Outdoor Championships (400m); 2nd IAAF World Outdoor Championships (4x400m Relay)
2014: 4th USATF Outdoor Championships (400m)
2015: 2nd USATF Indoor Championships (300m); 6th USATF Outdoor Championships (400m)

#8 Kimberlyn Duncan (LSU)


Duncan was very successful her senior year at LSU after winning the Bowerman as a junior. Duncan continued her success on the national level with a USATF title in 2013. And, the past two years has been a medalist at the World Relays.

Kimberlyn Duncan's Post Bowerman Resume:
2013: 7th NCAA Indoor Championships (60m); 1st NCAA Indoor Championships (200m); 3rd NCAA Outdoor Championships (100m); 1st NCAA Outdoor Championships (200m); 6th NCAA Outdoor Championships (4x100m Relay); 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (200m)
2014: 1st IAAF World Relays (4x200m Relay); 2nd USATF Outdoor Championships (200m)
2015: 2nd IAAF World Relays (4x100m Relay)

#7 Cam Levins (Southern Utah)


Cam Levins has been the best Canadian distance runner for the past three years. Cam's best performance on the world stage is his 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the 10,000m.

Cam Levins' Post Bowerman Resume:
2013: 41st IAAF World Cross Country Championships (12,000m); 1st Canadian Outdoor Championships (5,000m); 14th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (10,000m)
2014: 8th IAAF World Indoor Championships (3,000m); 1st Canadian Outdoor Championships (5,000m); 3rd Commonwealth Games (10,000m)
2015: 6th Canadian Outdoor Championships (1,500m); 1st Canadian Outdoor Championships (5,000m); 14th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (10,000m)

#6 Brianna Rollins (Clemson)


Brianna Rollins won a world title (August 2013) before she won the Bowerman Award (December 2013). As a Bowerman alum, Brianna has stayed competitive in the deepest US event and recently finished 4th at the 2015 World Championships.

Brianna Rollins' Post Bowerman Resume:
2014: 5th USATF Outdoor Championships (100m Hurdles); 4th IAAF Diamond League Standings (100m Hurdles)
2015: 4th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (100m Hurdles)

#5 Queen Harrison (Virginia Tech)


Like Brianna, Harrison has stayed competitive in the US 100m hurdles. While Queen hasn't won a national or world title, her Diamond League performances and top three finishes at USAs show that Queen has been very successful as a Bowerman alum.

Queen Harrison's Post Bowerman Resume:
2011: 5th USATF Indoor Championships (60m Hurdles); 2nd USATF Outdoor Championships (400m Hurdles)
2012: 3rd IAAF Diamond League Standings (100m Hurdles)
2013: 4th USATF Indoor Championships (60m Hurdles); 2nd USATF Outdoor Championships (100m Hurdles); 5th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (100m Hurdles)
2014: 2nd USATF Outdoor Championships (100m Hurdles); 2nd IAAF Diamond League Standings (100m Hurdles)
2015: 4th USATF Outdoor Championships (100m Hurdles)

#4 Derek Drouin (Indiana)


Derek Drouin's resume is brief having won the Bowerman in 2013. Drouin's resume puts him 4th overall mainly due to his 2015 gold medal, and his dominance at the Canadian national stage.

Derek Drouin's Post Bowerman Resume:
2014: 1st Canadian Outdoor Championships (High Jump); 1st Commonwealth Games (High Jump); 4th IAAF Diamond League Standings (High Jump)
2015: 1st Canadian Outdoor Championships (High Jump); 1st IAAF World Outdoor Championships (High Jump)

#3 Jenny Simpson (Colorado)/#2 Galen Rupp (Oregon)


It's ironic that Galen Rupp and Jenny Simpson won The Bowerman Award the same year in 2009. Both Jenny and Galen have had extremely successful careers as Bowerman alum. Deciding who's career has been better so far is very complicated. One could easily argue for both athletes to be ranked 2nd based on their resumes. We ranked Jenny 3rd and Galen 2nd based on 'depth' of resume. While, Jenny has won a world title and a Diamond League title, Galen's body of work and record breaking performances puts him over the top.

Jenny Simpson's Post Bowerman Resume:

2010: 3rd USATF Outdoor Championships (5,000m)
2011: 1st USATF Indoor Championships (Mile); 1st USATF Indoor Championships (3,000m); 2nd USATF Outdoor Championships (1,500m); 1st IAAF World Outdoor Championships (1,500m)
2012: 1st USATF Indoor Championships (1,500m); 1st USATF Indoor Championships (3,000m); 3rd U.S. Olympic Team Trials (1,500m); 4th IAAF Diamond League Standings (1,500m)
2013: 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (5,000m); 2nd IAAF World Outdoor Championships (1,500m); 3rd IAAF Diamond League Standings (1,500m)
2014: 2nd USATF Cross Country Championships (8,000m); 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (1,500m); 1st IAAF Diamond League Standings (1,500m)
2015: 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (1,500m); 11th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (1,500m); 4th IAAF Diamond League Standings (1,500m)

Galen Rupp's Post Bowerman Resume:
2010: 2nd USATF Indoor Championships (3,000m); 5th IAAF World Indoor Championships (3,000m); 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (10,000m)
2011: 2nd USATF Indoor Championships (3,000m); 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (10,000m); 3rd USATF Outdoor Championships (5,000m); 7th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (10,000m); 9th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (5,000m); 7th IAAF Diamond League Standings (5,000m)
2012: 3rd USATF Indoor Championships (1,500m); 3rd USATF Indoor Championships (3,000m); 1st U.S. Olympic Team Trials (10,000m); 1st U.S. Olympic Team Trials (5,000m); 2nd Olympic Games (10,000m); 7th Olympic Games (5,000m)
2013: 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (10,000m); 2nd USATF Outdoor Championships (5,000m); 4th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (10,000m); 8th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (5,000m)
2014: 2nd USATF Indoor Championships (3,000m); 4th IAAF World Indoor Championships (3,000m); 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (10,000m); 7th IAAF Diamond League Standings (5,000m)
2015: 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (10,000m); 3rd USATF Outdoor Championships (5,000m); 5th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (10,000m); 5th IAAF World Outdoor Championships (5,000m)

Our Breakdown:
Diamond League: Sorta Advantage Jenny (Galen's main event (10K) is not in the DL)
USATF Indoors: Advantage Jenny
USATF Outdoors: Advantage Galen
World Indoors: Sorta Advantage Galen (Jenny chose not to compete)
World Outdoors: Advantage Jenny
Olympics: Advantage Galen
Records: Advantage Galen

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#1 Ashton Eaton (Oregon)


Ashton Eaton has been nearly perfect since winning The Bowerman in 2010. The world's greatest athlete is the obvious choice for number one.

Ashton Eaton's Post Bowerman Resume:
2011: 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (Decathlon); 2nd IAAF World Outdoor Championships (Decathlon)
2012: 1st USATF Indoor Championships (Long Jump); 1st IAAF World Indoor Championships (Heptathlon); 1st U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Decathlon); 1st Olympic Games (Decathlon)
2013: 1st USATF Outdoor Championships (Decathlon); 1st IAAF World Outdoor Championships (Decathlon)
2014: 1st IAAF World Indoor Championships (Heptathlon)
2015: 1st IAAF World Outdoor Championships (Decathlon)