Craddock named to Bowerman award watch list

Florida Gators track and field standout Omar Craddock had an impressive 2012 season as the Killeen, Texas native captured both a NCAA Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Championship in the triple jump event and played a major role in securing Florida’s sweep of team national championships.

It comes as no surprise that Craddock was named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List for 2013. The Bowerman was introduced in 2009 as an award given to the most outstanding men and women’s collegiate track and field athlete in the country.

In addition to Craddock’s NCAA Championships, he also swept the SEC Championships for triple jump in 2012. He went on to participate in the Olympic trials, placing fourth in the triple jump and just shy of securing a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.

This is the fifth time a Gators track and field athlete has been named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List. Former Florida track and field athlete Christian Taylor is the only athlete in school history to become a finalist for the award.

Craddock will kick off his 2013 indoor campaign on Jan. 12 at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener in Birmingham, Ala.

drewlaing
Drew is a senior at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. When not at school, Drew resides in Lakeland, Fla. Ever since working on his high school yearbook, Drew has had an interest in pursuing a journalism career after college. In addition to being Editor-in-Chief of his school newspaper, The Samford Crimson, Drew has also been with Gator Country as an intern for one year. He enjoys the finer things in life like Tampa Bay Rays baseball and always making sure to make fun of the Atlanta Braves to Andrew Spivey’s face.