Arizona’s Barrett nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Former Arizona Wildcat Brigetta Barrett is one of 30 women nominated for the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year award, the organization recently announced. Barrett, a six-time NCAA Champion and Olympic gold medalist in the high jump, was the recipient of the 2012-13 Pac-12 Conference Woman of the Year. 

The award is presented annually to graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, community service and leadership. Barrett is among 29 other women nominated this year who have a cumulative 3.79 grade-point average, 12 national championships and more than 80 All-America honors. 

Barrett left Arizona as one of the most successful women’s collegiate high jumpers. She won her sixth-straight NCAA title in the event in June, becoming the first woman in collegiate history to win three-straight indoor and outdoor national titles. She also owns the most high jump titles in collegiate history with six. Her personal-best clearance of 6-8.25 (2.04m) at the USA Championships in 2012 is the No. 2 jump in U.S. history.  

Barrett has also excelled in the classroom, graduating cum laude in May, earning a bachelor of arts degree in theater arts. In 2011, she was voted a Capital One Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and earned a spot on UA’s Dean’s List in the fall of 2009. 

Barrett has served in several leadership positions, including being selected the co-President of the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was a team captain on the Wildcat track & field squad. She also served as the co-President of the Committed to Christ student group on campus and was voted UA’s Homecoming Queen this past academic year. 

Barrett is also a finalist for The Bowerman, the award given to the most outstanding male and female student-athletes in collegiate track & field. She was recently named the USTFCCCA National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year and Women’s West Region Field Athlete of the Year, as well.

In addition to Barrett, STANFORD's Becky Dru was named a top 30 nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. A field hockey player, Dru was submitted as a nominee as an independent. She was a two-time NFHCA All-American and a two-time NFHCA Academic All-American.