Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics

Ben Fazio was a standout member of the Class of 2017 from RPI's men's cross country and track & field teams. Ben's career was nothing short of extraordinary, earning five All-American honors-two in cross country and three in track & field-and becoming a national champion in the distance medley relay in 2017.
 
Ben's impact in cross country began early, as he became RPI's first-ever cross country All-American in 2014 with a 26th place finish at the NCAA Championships. Ben would continue to shine in the seasons to follow, as he earned his second All-America honor in 2015 after finishing in 20th place in the NCAA Championship. 2016 saw Ben and the Engineers achieve their first outright Liberty League title, breaking a 21-year win streak by St. Lawrence. Ben claimed the individual victory at the Liberty League Championship that fall, and he finished his cross country career with a top-70 finish at the NCAA Championships.
 
On the track, Ben excelled across multiple events. In 2017, he captured the first national title in RPI's history in the Distance Medley Relay, along with earning a fourth-place finish in the 3,000 meter run. That year, he was also a dual champion at the Liberty League Indoor Championships and capped his career with a runner-up finish in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Championships, earning his third track All-America honor.
 
Ben's excellence extended beyond his own career. Since re-joining the cross country and track programs as an assistant coach in 2018, he has helped guide RPI to six Liberty League cross country championships, four outdoor track & field league titles, and two indoor conference championships. Additionally, Ben has been a part of two NCAA regional championships, seen multiple Engineers earn top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships under his tutelage, and has been a member of the Liberty League coaching staff of the year on ten occasions