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One of the most decorated field athletes in the history of Rensselaer's program, Benson was a two-time NCAA National All-American and multiple UCAA and NYSCTC champion in the pole vault. The Wurstboro, N.Y., native was an eight-time participant in the pole vault at Nationals, competing in both indoor and outdoor in each of her four seasons. Among the other top accomplishments throughout her career were three conference titles and eight New York State titles (4 indoor, 4 outdoor).
A two-time captain, Benson's most outstanding season came in 2003 when she captured both of her All-America honors as a junior. She finished seventh at the outdoor nationals and eighth during the indoor meet. Additionally, she won at both the indoor and outdoor State Championships, posting a meet record during indoor. She also set the school outdoor record, a mark which still stands.
Benson - who was in interdisciplinary studies major - graduated as the school, league and New York State record holder in the pole vault and continues to hold the indoor and outdoor school records, as well as the NYSCTC Outdoor Meet and Association Record. The former Monticello High School standout holds a degree in interdisciplinary sciences.
Below is a detailed list of her career accomplishments:
2001: Participant in NCAA Indoors … Participant in NCAA Outdoors … Finished 16th in pole vault (3.21m) in Outdoors … Fourth at ECAC Outdoors … NYS Outdoor champion … 2002: Participant in NCAA Indoors … Participant in NCAA Outdoors … Ninth at NCAA Indoors … Won at NYS Indoors and Outdoors … Set school outdoor record … Second at ECAC Outdoors … UCAA Outdoor champion … Third at ECAC Indoors … Won NYS Outdoors with NCAA provisional mark and meet record … Multiple UCAA Track Athlete of the Week … 2003: Captain … All-American in Indoors with eighth place finish … All-American in Outdoors with seventh place finish … UCAA Field Athlete of the Week … UCAA champion … Won NYS Indoor and Outdoor Championships … Set NYS Indoors record at 3.41m … Set school record at 3.66m at ECAC Meet … Multiple UCAA Field Performer of the Week … Second at UCAA Indoor Championship … 2004: Captain … NCAA Participant … UCAA Field Performer of the Year … UCAA champion … First at NYS Indoor and Outdoor Championships (NYS record, NCAA Provisional mark, and fourth consecutive NYS Indoor title) … UCAA Field Performer of the Year … Other: Holds school record in indoor and outdoor pole vault (3.66m) … Graduated as RPI, UCAA/Liberty League, and NYS record holder … Continues to hold NYS Meet and Association record.
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