Nicole Benson

Class: Junior Hometown: Peoria, Ill. High School: Limestone

Last College: Bradley University Event: Distance

2012 -- Indoor - did not compete.

2011 -- Indoor - won mile at Iowa Invite with a collegiate-best 5:01.84... ran season-best 3,000 meters (10:10.23) at Razorback Invite... placed 23rd in 5,000 meters (17:40.19) at Big Ten Championships... Outdoor - did not compete... Cross Country - placed fifth at Iowa Invite (3,000 meters - 10:39) and Iowa Open (4,000 meters - 14:56) with collegiate best times... placed 20th at Loyola Lakefront Invitational (5,000 meters - 18:05)... team earned USTFCCCA all-academic honors... letterwinner.

2008-2010 -- ran cross country and track at Bradley University... earned all-conference honors in cross country and track... named Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week three times as a redshirt freshman... led Bradley in all seven cross country races she competed in during 2009 season... runner-up at 2009 MVC Championships and placed 24th at NCAA Regional, matching highest finishes for a Bradley individual runner at those races since 2002... her best 5,000-meter (17:37) and 6,000-meter (21:34.40) times rank second and third, respectively, all-time at Bradley... won individual cross country titles at Western Illinois Early Bird and Border War meets... two-time A.D. honor roll student.

High School -- earned four varsity letters, and finished first at the 2007 state meet... earned three all-state honors finished second in 1,600 meters in 2008... coached by Clint LaFary.

Personal -- born August 21, 1990... daughter of Bill and Connie Benson... art major.