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Ben Blankenship

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Gender	Male
Birthday	12/15/1989 - 23 years old

Notes

College: Minnesota
Events: 1,500 – 3:37.23
Coach: Mark Rowland

Blankenship posted a pair of personal bests in the summer of 2011, following his career at the University of Minnesota. First was a 1,500 meters in Kortrijk, Belgium where he ran 3:37.23. Then in Lucerne, Switzerland, Ben ran a 3,000 in 7:49.70.

College: In the 2011 outdoor season, Blankenship surprised many with his victory in the 1,500 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational where he ran 3:39.49. While at Minnesota, Ben finished second in the 3,000 meters and ran on the third-place DMR team at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships. Blankenship was a 2010 All-American in the distance medley relay and NCAA cross country All-American. Over his tenure at Minnesota, he was a three-time NCAA Championships competitor in track and field. Ben won the 2010 Big Ten title in the mile, and during that same season, Ben was Minnesota's first runner to clock a sub-4 minute mile. He holds the school record holder in the mile (3:57.87) and 1,500 meters (3:39.77). In cross country, Ben was a three-time NCAA Cross Country Championships competitor and was the number-three runner on Minnesota's 15th-place team at 2008 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

High School: A 2007 graduate of Stillwater High School, Ben was coached by Scott Christensen. He won Minnesota Class AA crowns in the 1,600 meters as a junior (2006) and senior (2007) Ben added a third-place finish in the 3,200-meter run in 2006 and finished sixth as a junior in the 2005 Minnesota Class AA Cross Country Championships, leading Stillwater to a second-place finish.

Personal: Born Dec. 15, 1989 to Richard and Patricia Blankenship. Majored in American Studies.

PERSONAL BESTS – Indoor
Mile - 3:57.87 - University of Washington Last Chance, Seattle, Wash. - March 6, 2010
3,000 meters - 7:52.52 - UW Husky Classic, Seattle, Wash. - February 11, 2011

PERSONAL BESTS – Outdoor
1,500 meters - 3:37.23 - Kortrijk, Belgium - July 9, 2011
Mile - 3:54.10 - Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Ore. - June 4, 2011
3,000 meters - Lucerne, Switzerland - July 21, 2011