University of Tennessee Athletics
Coleman Named Finalist For IAAF Rising Star Award
October 23, 2017 | Track & Field
VFL and Tennessee track and field legend Christian Coleman is one of three finalists for the IAAF Men's Rising Star Award
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee track legend and VFL Christian Coleman has been named one of three men's finalists for the 2017 IAAF Rising Star Awards, as announced by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Monday.
The IAAF Rising Star Awards, which are given to one man and one woman, recognize the top athletes who are U23. The 2017 winners will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2017 on Nov. 24 in Monaco.
The other two men's finalists are Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis and Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm. The three women's finalists are Ukrainian high jumper Yuliya Levchenko, Bahraini sprinter Salwa Eid Naser and Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas.
Coleman, who is also a finalist for The 2017 Bowerman Award, earned silver in the men's 100 meters and the men's 4x100 in August at the London 2017 IAAF World Championships. Coleman is also just the second person to win the USTFCCCA National Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and USTFCCCA National Indoor Track Athlete of the Year awards in the same season since the Bowerman Award was introduced in 2009. The other person to sweep the awards, Galen Rupp, also won the Bowerman in 2009.
Coleman became just the second person in NCAA history to win four sprint national championships in one year as he won the 60 meters and 200 meters during the indoor season and the 100 meters and 200 meters during the outdoor season. VFL Justin Gatlin, who accomplished the feat in 2002, is the only other person to complete the sprint double-double.
Coleman turned professional earlier this summer, signing with Nike. He continues to take classes at the University of Tennessee to finish his degree while also training to compete as a professional track athlete.
Players Mentioned
