Former ASU thrower Maggie Ewen placed among the top three Bowerman finalists on Thursday, finishing just shy of winning the award.
The Bowerman Award, which is sometimes likened to the Hiesman Trophy of track and field, is presented by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association to the top male and female collegiate track and field athlete in the nation.
This year was the second consecutive year in which Ewen was nominated for the award. Despite the 24-year-old falling short of first place, Ewen won the Bowerman fan vote over the summer and was the first Sun Devil to become a finalist since former ASU thrower Ryan Whiting was nominated in 2010.
Ewen's nomination highlighted the mark she left at ASU, having set two records in the indoor shot put and weight throw. She is among only several women in the history of the NCAA Outdoor Championships to win both the discus and shot put events.
During her interview at the Bowerman Award presentation, Ewen gave credit to her coaches and the people in her life for her success.
“I am surrounded by a lot of really good people, really great coaches and really great support systems,” she said during the on-stage interview. “No one wants to see you fail.”
ASU assistant coach Brian Blutreich, who worked closely with throwers, commented on the Sun Devil finalist, celebrating the strides she made in her college career.
But ultimately, former thrower at the University of Georgia, Keturah Orji was named the award winner.
Orji holds two career bests and also competed in the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Sophomore USC sprinter Michael Norman was named the men's winner of the Bowerman.
During Norman's first year he set the freshman record and holds a third rank in the 400-meter race at USC.
Reach the reporter at Edith.Noriega@asu.edu or follow @Noriega_Edith on Twitter.
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