Lawson a finalist for track's top award

Arkansas' Jarrion Lawson, left, wins the men's 200-meter dash at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Ore., Friday, June 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

— Arkansas' Jarrion Lawson is a finalist for the top individual award in college track & field.

Lawson was named Friday as one of three finalists for The Bowerman. The trophy will be presented in December during the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in Orlando, Fla.

Other finalists for the award are Oregon distance runner Edward Cheserek and Texas A&M sprinter Donavan Brazier are also finalists for the award. Lawson is the first male finalist ever from Arkansas.

The award takes into consideration performances during the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons. Cross country campaigns are not considered for the award.

Lawson won four individual national championships as a senior, winning the long jump at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor meets, and the 100 meters and 200 meters outdoors. He was also a member of the Razorbacks' third-place 400 meter relay team outdoors.

Lawson became the first individual to win three titles at one NCAA meet since Jesse Owens and his 31.5 points broke a modern-day record set by former Arkansas jumper Mike Conley that stood for 31 years.

Despite his record performance outdoors, Lawson has strong competition for The Bowerman. Cheserek also won four individual championships as a junior and anchored Oregon's championship distance medley relay team at the indoor meet.

Counting cross country, Cheserek is tied for the NCAA record with 15 individual championships during his career.

Brazier, a freshman, broke a 50-year-old collegiate record in the 800 meters.