Blessing Okagbare (Image: UTEP Athletics)

EL PASO, Texas– Blessing Okagbare has been tabbed one of three finalists for The Bowerman – the highest honor given to collegiate track and field student-athletes by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Okagbare is joined by Virginia Tech’s Queen Harrison and Iowa State’s Lisa Koll as the finalists chosen by a ten-person advisory board based on performances during the 2010 indoor and outdoor seasons.

Okagbare, a native of Umuahi, Nigeria, notched NCAA crowns during the outdoor season in the 100 meters and long jump, becoming the first in collegiate history to pull off such a feat.

In the indoor season, Okagbare won national titles in the 60 meters and long jump and grabbed top honors in the long jump in topping the NCAA Championships meet record twice.

Okagbare was undefeated in all sprint and jump finals during the season and anchored the UTEP 4×100 to the NCAA Outdoor Championships semifinal.

Okagbare was the USTFCCCA Mountain Region Track Athlete and Mountain Region Field Athlete of the Year during the indoor season and the once again the Mountain Region Track Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season.

Award winners will be announced at the USTFCCCA Convention on December 15 in San Antonio, Texas.

Fans are encouraged to take part in the selection process by logging on to www.TheBowerman.org and vote.