Richmond Track & Field Announces 2010-11 Year End Awards

The University of Richmond announced its 2010-11 year end awards for men’s and women’s cross country and track & field this past fall.  During the 2010-11 year the Spiders programs continued to make great progress and improvement with 5 All-American honorees, 10 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Qualifiers, a 24th place at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors for the 9th consecutive year in M&W XC and M&W T&F, and the men's T&F team receiving recognition for achieving the highest GPA in the nation.  Here are some of the top awards Richmond student-athletes earned during the 2010-11 cross country and track & field season’s….  

2010 CROSS COUNTRY Awards:   

Richmond's lead pack at the
2010 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships.

All-American 3KSC runner-Andrew Benford

Final Meet Before 2012 A-10 Indoor Championships

Meaghan McGovern won the Weight Throw in a personal best
at CNU while many team members were in
New York City for the New Balance Games.

Spiders Complete Final Conference Tune-Ups

Courtesy:Richmond Athletics
Release:02/05/2012

NEW YORK CITY/NEWPORT NEWS,VA- At the New Balance Collegiate, junior Stephanie Paradiscame out strong to win her Women's 800 Meters heat with a time of 2:16.07. Paradis returned to the track to team up with freshman Taylor Clevinger and sophomores Alyson McGonigle and Alli Mannon in the 4x800 Meter Relay. The foursome would turn in a fourth-place finish with a time of 8:57.30 and break a 30-year old school record of 8:57.44 set in 1982 by Josephine White, Betsy Spillman, Alsyon Hendricks and Melissa Mullet.

Richmond Spiders on 2011 U.S. Track & Field Performance List

U.S. Track & Field News recently released their 2011 year end national track & field performance rankings and the University of Richmond had several athletes on the list….Women’s 4X1500M, Andrew Benford (3KSC), Nicol Traynor (3KSC) and Matt Llano (10K)…See lists below: 

University of Richmond Head Coach Lori Taylor encourages one of 10 Richmond Spider athletes competing in 12 different events at the first round of the 2011 NCAA DI Track & Field Championships in Indiana. The Spiders ended the year with 5 NCAA All-American honorees (Andrew Benford-3KSC-2011, Matt Llano-10K-2010, Heather Roush-Javelin-2011, Nicol Traynor-3KSC-2011, Amy Van Alstine-5K-2011).  (Dan Petty Photo)

2011-6th Annual Ryan Jobes Memorial 5K

Richmond's NICOL TRAYNOR Breaks Record in 6th Annual RYAN JOBES MEMORIAL 5K 
Spider Graduates ANDREW BENFORD and JON MOLZ go 1-2 

Andrew Benford (1st-15:15), Nicol Traynor (1st-CR 17:46) 
and Jon Molz (2nd-15:44) after the 
2011 Ryan Jobes Memorial 5K in Williamstown, WV 
held December 17.  

Benford and U.S. Teammates Place 8th in Izumo Ekiden Race (Japan)

Andrew Benford (UR '11) last year at the
NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Andrew Benford (Richmond '11) and his USA teammates placed 8th in the Izumo Ekiden held on October 10 in Izumo, Japan.  Their 8th place team finish is the highest ever finish for team USA and led to an automatic bid for the U.S. to return next year.

Andrew Benford wins 4th Annual McLean 5K (October 1, 2011)

Andrew Benford set a course record
in the 4th Annual McLean 5K.

Andrew Benford went to McLean, Virginia yesterday looking for a race.  The end result of his effort was a course record win in the 4th Annual McLean 5K...Benford's winning time of 15:09.0 for the hilly event broke the course record by 35 seconds. The old record of 15:45.5 was set last year by Mark Drath.

Andrew Benford Selected to USA Team for Izumo Ekiden (Izumo, Japan)

Andrew Benford,
shown en route to a 5th place finish
at the 2011 Cow Harbor 10K
in Northport, NY on September 17th,
will compete on the USA Team
for the Izumo Ekiden Relay in Japan on October 10th.

BENFORD TO RACE IN JAPAN FOR TEAM USA...

2011 Great Cow Harbor 10K...Spider Alumni Roll

Andrew Benford, who earned All-America honors
 in the 3K Steeplechase for the University of Richmond
this past spring (2011), placed 5th in the
2011 Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, NY
on September 17th.

(Northport, NY) Richmond Assistant Coaches Andrew Benford and Jon Molz joined recent graduates Jon Wilson and Amy Van Alstine on Saturday (September 17) for the 2011 Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, NY.

Charleston Distance Run: Benford Relishes a Climb-via The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

Andrew Benford shown winning the
2010 Atlantic 10 Conference Cross Country title
(Dan Petty Photo)

This post provides a link to an article on recent Richmond Spider and Ravenswood HS, WV graduate Andrew Benford, previewing the 2011 Charleston Distance Run in Charleston, WV. 

The 15 mile race is one of the oldest road races in the US and is a right of passage for any West Virginia born runner.  If you grew up running  in WV then you know the Charleston 15 Miler and the place it holds for those with roots to the mountain state known by natives as "West by God Virginia"...One of the first races I ran as a child I wore a black Charleston Distance Run sleeveless race shirt that had "A Salute To PRE" screened on the back of it to honor the late Steve Prefontaine who passed a year earlier in a car accident.

The Charleston 15 Milers is a tough, hilly course which starts on the flat lands around the state capitol building before climbing into the hills and mountains surrounding the city and then dropping back to finish with roughly 6 miles through the city at the end. 

Both Benford and Jon Molz ('UR '08) are assistant coaches for their Alma Mater here at Richmond and both plan to compete in the 15 miler next weekend...

Here is the link to the article:

Distance Run: Benford relishes a climb - Sports - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

Andrew Benford earned All-American honors at Richmond in the steeplechase, an event in which he is pursuing a U.S. Olympic spot.

By Mike Whiteford
The Charleston Gazette

Andrew Benford's first look at the hilly, 15-mile course, surprisingly enough, brought hope, not despair.

Other runners may shudder in seeing the Charleston Distance Run's excruciating inclines, but Benford sees opportunity, much like the opportunity he sees in the 2012 Olympics.

He also sees a 15-mile course that suits his game.

Benford, a 2006 Ravenswood High graduate and a recent University of Richmond grad, is a veteran cross country runner accustomed to hills, and he even competed in world-class mountain races in Italy a few years ago, negotiating mountainous terrain that makes the South Hills streets look serene.

His specialty and Olympic dream is the 3,000-meter steeplechase, a barrier-filled lung sapper.

"The tougher courses kind of favor me,'' said Benford, who will make his Charleston Distance Run debut on Sept. 3. "I like something that really makes you dig down and grind. The tougher the conditions and the tougher the course usually are better for me. It kind of plays to my strength. And using my speed from track and everything will be good for me too in that last 10K.''

READ MORE HERE

Richmond Spiders Nab Ninth-Straight All-Academic Team Honors

Men’s Team Earns Highest Track & Field Team GPA in the Nation!

2011 NCAA Championships Qualifiers for the Spiders
(L-R) Jill Prentice (5K), Jenn Ennis (3KSC), Heather Roush (Jav),
Matt Llano (10K), Meaghan McGovern (Hammer),
Andrew Benford (3KSC and 5K), Nicol Traynor (3KSC and 5K),
Amy Van Alstine (5K)...not in photo Monica Howard (Discus)
and Julie Rechel (10K)

Below is part of an article (and a link to the remainder) regarding our men's and women's track & field teams earning USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors for the 9th consecutive year and our men's team achieving the highest NCAA DI Track & Field team cumulative GPA in the nation for the 2011 season.

As you recall our men's and women's cross country teams also earned their 9th consecutive honor this past fall.  Along with winning the 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference Cross Country team titles last fall our men finished 24th as a team at the NCAA DI National Championships in Terre Haute, IN.

Lori and I feel this latest honor for our track & field teams compliments their achievements from this past track & field season where 10 athletes qualified to the NCAA Championships (first round).  Additionally, 5 athletes qualified to the NCAA Championships Final where they earned 4 All-America honors and 1 honorable mention All-America.  During the season our women set 11 school records and the men and women combined to establish 5 new Fred Hardy Facility Records (see below):

RICHMOND OUTDOOR RECORDS SET IN 2011

Women:
1500M------4:19.38-----Amy VanAlstine (5/8/11-A-10 Championships)
3000M------9:29.54-----Amy VanAlstine (3/25/11-Fred Hardy Inv.)
3000M SC--10:02.94----Nicol Traynor (6/22/11-NCAA Champs Final)
5,000M-----16:06.15----Amy Van Alstine (6/22/11-NCAA Champs Final)
10,000M----34:50.65----Julie Rechel (5/28/11-NCAA Champs-1st Round)
Discus-------49.86M-----Monica Howard (5/8/11-A-10 Championships)
Javelin-------48.08M-----Heather Roush (3/2511-Fred Hardy Inv.)
Triple Jump--12.08M-----X’auntasia Johnson (5/8/11-A-10 Champs)
Pole Vault----3.40M------Grace Gibson (5/8/11-A-10 Championships)
4x1500M----17:58.21----VanAlstine/Traynor/Ennis/Mannon
 (4x1500M splits-VanAlstine-4:19.7/Traynor-4:23.2/Ennis-4:40.5/Mannon-4:34.9) (4/30/11-Penn Relays)

RICHMOND INDOOR RECORDS SET IN 2011 Women:
Pole Vault----3.30M------Grace Gibson (2/5/11-VMI Relays)

FRED HARDY FACILITY RECORDS SET IN 2011
Men:
3000M-------8:17.34------Matt Llano (Richmond) 2011
3000M SC---8:56.87------Andrew Benford (Richmond (2011)
Women:
1500M-------4:31.17------Nicol Traynor (Richmond) 2011
3000M-------9:29.54------Amy VanAlstine (Richmond) 2011
Javelin--------48.08M------Heather Roush (Richmond) 2011

2011 OUTDOOR T&F ALL-AMERICA HONORS EARNED
5,000M--------Amy VanAlstine (2nd Team)
3,000M SC----Nicol Traynor (2nd Team)
Javelin----------Heather Roush (2nd team)
3,000M SC----Andrew Benford (2nd Team)
10,000M------Matt Llano (Honorable Mention)

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIERS 2011
3,000M SC----Andrew Benford (8:39.71)
5,000M--------Andrew Benford (13:55.88)
10,000M------Matt Llano (28:43.30)
3,000M SC---Jenn Ennis (10:30.27)
Discus---------Monica Howard (49.86M)
Hammer-------Meaghan McGovern (55.85M)
5,000M-------Jill Prentice (16:39.79)
10,000M------Julie Rechel (34:50.65)
Javelin---------Heather Roush (48.08M)
3,000M SC---Nicol Traynor (10:02.94)
5,000M-------Nicol Traynor (16:10.37)
5,000M-------Amy Van Alstine (16:06.15)

Plus, Amy VanAlstine was named "2011 Most Outstanding Track Performer" of the Atlantic 10 Conference. She won both the 1500M (4:19.36) in Meet Record Time and the 5K (16:39.56)...VanAlstine's 4:19.38 also broke Joan Nesbit's 1500M facility record set in 2000 (4:23.14).

Here is the article courtesy: Richmond Athletics

The Richmond Men's Track & Field Team
earned the highest track & field team GPA
among all NCAA DI programs for the 2011 season.
Shown here (R-L): Jon Wilson, Chris York, Ryan Lee and Jason Skipper

Richmond Spiders Nab Ninth-Straight All-Academic Team Honors

Men’s Team Earns Highest Track & Field Team GPA in the Nation!

Courtesy:Richmond Athletics
Release:08/11/2011

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - For the ninth-consecutive season, the University of Richmond men's and women's track & field squads have been named NCAA Division I All-Academic Teams by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Spider men added to their honor by recording the highest cumulative GPA (3.51) in the nation ahead of second-best Harvard and Duke.

"Once again, we are very proud of our athletes and their efforts in the classroom," said men's head coach Steve Taylor. "We place this achievement on our list of goals every year, and our athletes work hard to reach it. As a staff we expect them to work hard and challenge themselves in the classroom, while also expecting them to balance their academic career with their athletic career in order to achieve at the highest level in both. Over the years, we have witnessed that achieving success in the classroom complements success within the sport of track & field, and this award exemplifies how these student-athletes know how to prioritize both academically and athletically at an amazingly high level."

The Spider men join three other Atlantic 10 teams in La Salle, Massachusetts and Temple on the list of programs earning the USTFCCCA's distinction as a result of a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better. On the women's side, Richmond and five other conference squads in Charlotte, Dayton, La Salle, Saint Louis and Temple received academic team honors from the organization.

"We are proud of the tradition our track & field and cross country teams have established over the years," added Director of Track & Field Lori Taylor. "The fact that both our men's and women's programs have earned All-Academic Team honors for nine consecutive years demonstrates that our student-athletes understand balance. As coaches, we are educators first and understand that our student-athletes are here for their degree programs. The University of Richmond is a great school and our student-athletes choose to come here because they know they will have opportunities for a great educational and athletic experience. This is an exceptional achievement."

Read More HERE

Five Spiders Earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors

Andrew Benford, Matt Llano, Meaghan McGovern, Jill Prentice and Julie Rechel earn USTFCCCA All-Academic honors...

Courtesy: Richmond Athletics
Release:08/04/2011
 
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - Five Richmond student-athletes have been named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Track and Field Team as announced by the organization this week. Graduated seniors Andrew Benford and Matt Llano were selected to the men's team, while junior Meaghan McGovern, freshman Jill Prentice and graduated senior Julie Rechel represented the Spiders on the women's side...

READ MORE HERE

2011 USATF National Championships (Days 5 & 6)-Eugene, OR

The day after the finals of the USATF Junior Men's 5K Spider freshman Ryan Lee (12th in 14:42.84), NCAA 3KSC All-American, Andrew Benford (Photo left of waterfall) and assistant coach, Jon Molz ran to Upper Trestle Falls.  The falls are located several miles south of Eugene, OR.  These falls are located in the Umpoua National Forest and the trail leading in was part of the Noonday Wagon Trail leading to the Bohemian mining area (Gold, Silver, Copper).  There is tremendous history and we took a self guided educational tour to enlighten ourselves. 

DAY #5...
           UPPER TRESTLE FALLS and THE SWIM...

The Umpoua National Forest is located in a remote area of Oregon south of Eugene near Cottage Grove.  To get there take I-5 to Cottage Grove. Follow the Dorena Lake signs heading East. Continue on past Dorena Lake. The two lane road turns into a single track paved road just past Disston. Continue to a bridge that takes a slight left turn and crosses the creek. Champion Creek Road is to the right and the sign to Trestle Falls and Noonday Wagon Trail are on your left..

We stopped for gas in Cottage Grove and asked the attendant, "do you know where Trestle Falls is?"...He replied, "Never heard of it." 

The Noonday Wagon Trail is not much more than a single track foot path these days however part of the trail has been maintained for 4x4 jeep traffic.  This part of the trail looked like you were running in a tropical forest, except the temperatures were in the 60's.

Andrew Benford and Ryan Lee made the trek to Upper Trestle Falls...
Notice the trail actually goes behind the falls giving the vantage of running behind the waterfall.

Andrew Benford and Ryan Lee heading off the mountain.

The view from behind Upper Trestle Falls.

The trail to Upper Trestle Falls included a tough climb but
according to Molz, Benford and Lee, "it was well worth it". 
They claimed it was the "best run of their lives."

An old tree next to the trail...



Brice Creek...



Andrew Benford on the way out taking a look at how clear the water is...
This pool was over 15 feet deep.



One of the bridges on the trail...

Brice Creek and its snow melt water...
Documented 35-42 degree water year-round..
Very cold!

Jon Molz and Andrew Benford next to Brice Creek.

Andrew Benford takes a jump into the 40 degree water after a 65 minute run in the mountains.

Ryan Lee getting ready to jump into the ice cold water...

Ryan Lee just before his scream of "get me outa here!"

Jon Molz taking the jump..
They had to take several jumps since the camera didn't capture the moment too well. 
After a few attempts they finally got the photo they were looking for.

LOWER TRESTLE FALLS...

Lower Trestle Falls...
It's only a mile from the road and worth every step to get there.
It's hard to believe this in located in Oregon...Amazing waterfall!!



An old fallen tree over the trail has a new tree growing out of it.

 

The trail leading to Lower Trestle Falls...



Another bridge on the trail...



Luke running into Trestle Falls...



Luke just wanted to run with the "racers" as he calls our team members.

Luke still on his way to Lower Trestle Falls...
Here he is running under an old fallen tree across the trail.

The trail climbed slightly...nothing like the one leading to Upper Trestle Falls.

Another old log across the trail...

Luke ran ahead, reaching the falls before Lori and me...He came back excited to show us what he "discovered"!

Lower Trestle Falls

Luke standing on the fallen logs at the base of Lower Trestle Falls.

Me, Lori and Luke.

Luke wanted to climb out onto this fallen log suspended 25 feet in the air...
Lori didn't think that was such a good idea. 

Lower Trestle Falls...

The Slug...They grow big in these parts...
As Coach Molz pointed out, "Slugs (or shell-less snails) occupy the phylum Mollusca in the class known as Gastropoda. Unlike their brethren the snails, slugs can occupy an ecological range without rich calcium deposits required to build shells. Of course, the down side to running naked of shell is the risk of desiccation. Thus the attraction to moist climates such as found in the Pacific Northwest."

Luke heading back down the mountain in search of the "racers".

Brice Creek...

Nicol Traynor took and ice bath in Brice Creek...
Luke thought he wanted to join her...until he touched the water with his foot.
He decided 40 degree water is better to look at than to swim in.

DAY #6...
              VOO DOO DOUGHNUTS in Eugene, OR

Voo Doo Doughnuts has been featured on the Travel Chanel many times.
Here's a short video LINK.

Seriously, this is one odd donut shop.

This sign was a warning of what was inside...

Ryan Lee and Luke check it out...

One of their most popular donuts is the
"Cream Filled Maple/Bacon" (on the right in this photo).
It has 2 slices of bacon on top of it. 
We can't mention the names of most of the others,
but you will get the idea if you do a google search.

Jon Molz with the "Chocolate, Oreo Peanut Butter Donut".

The "Chocolate, Oreo Peanut Butter Donut".

SAHALIE FALLS...
                     TO KOOSAH FALLS...
                                          TO CLEAR LAKE...

Sahalie Falls is located East of Eugene on Rt 126...
Andrew Benford, Ryan Lee and Jon Molz ran from here to Clear Lake
roughly a hour away...Along the trail were tremendous views and several old lava fields.

Nicol Traynor and Luke on their way to Sahalie Falls...



Another great trail connects Sahalie Falls with Koosah Falls...

 

The McKenzie River below Sahalie Falls...

The trail to Koosah Falls...

The McKenzie River...

Koosah Falls!!!

The canyon below Koosah Falls...

Ryan Lee crossing the McKenzie River on his way to Clear Lake.

Andrew Benford crossing the McKenzie River on his way to Clear Lake.

The trail next to Clear Lake...

Ryan Lee picks up the pace...

Andrew Benford passing through on of the lava fields Clear Lake.

Ryan Lee and Andrew Benford...

The snow capped peaks of "Sisters Mountains"...

Clear Lake...
You can see the  bottom at 50 feet deep in places...

One of the remarkably clear pools of water leading into Clear Lake.

This photo does not do justice to the clarity of the water...

Ryan Lee running around Clear Lake...

Sisters Mountains in the background...still covered in snow.