Bradley University Athletics

Honors & Awards

• 2009 MVC All-Conference Cross Country Team
• 2010 All-MVC Track & Field (2010)
• Missouri Valley Conference Athlete of the Week: 9/8/09, 10/6/09, 10/13/09
• Bradley A.D. Honor Roll:  Spring 2009, Spring 2010

At Bradley
(2009 - Redshirt Freshman)
Three-time Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week as a freshman ... Was Bradley's top finisher in all seven events she competed in ... Won the first event of her collegiate career, winning the Western Illinois Early Bird ... Finished sixth at the Missouri State Classic ... Won the Border Wat Cross Country Championship in Edwardsville, Ill. ... Took seventh at the Bradley Classic ... Finished second (eight seconds behind individual champion) at MVC Championship, matching the best finish for a Bradley individual since 2002 ... Placed 24th at the NCAA Regional, marking the best individual finish for a BU runner since 2002 ... Her 5K time of 17:37 at Notre Dame is the second best 5K time in program history ... NCAA Regional time of 21:34.40 is the third best 6K time in program history.

(2008 - Freshman)
Redshirted during the 2008 season..
 
Career Bests
5K:  17:37 at 2009 Notre Dame Invitational
6K:  21:34.4 at 2009 NCAA Midwest Regional

Meet-by-Meet Times
2009 (Redshirt Freshman)
Meet                                            Distance                   Time
Western Illinois Early Bird              6K                             21:58*
Bradley Open                                5K                             DNR
Missouri State Classic                   5K                             17:43.0
Notre Dame Invitational                   5K                             17:37 
SIU Edwardsville Border War           5K                             17:30.91* (course was 180 meters short)
Bradley Classic                              6K                            21:53
MVC Championship                        5K                            18:40
NCAA Regional                              6K                             21:34.4

Prep Overview
Benson had an outstanding cross country career at Limestone (Ill.) High School for coach Clint LaFary ... Earned four varsity letters, and finished first at the 2007 state meet ... Recieved all-state honors for three seasons as a member of the Rockets track and field team ... Finished second in the 1,600M in 2008.

Personal
The daughter of Bill and Connie Benson, Nicole was born August 21, 1990 ... Majoring in art education.