April 28, 2008

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond sophomore Andrew Benford was named the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Track & Field Performer of the Week after an impressive performance at the Penn Relays this weekend, at which he qualified for the NCAA Regional Championship in the 3,000m steeplechase. Competing against a collection of the best athletes in the nation at the Penn Relays, Benford finished ninth in the college championship division.

In just his second career steeplechase event, the sophomore locked up an NCAA Regional spot for the second consecutive week with a time of 8:59.11 to finish ninth in the college championship division - an event that featured the nation's top collegiate steeple runners and no less than five All-Americans.

"It was a tough race," said Benford after Thursday's event. "But I felt good and I'm obviously very excited to qualify for the Regionals. It went out fast but I settled into my pace on the third lap and kept moving."

A Ravenswood, W.Va. native, Benford qualified for the NCAA Regional in the 5,000m last weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays in Los Angeles. Thursday marked his second time running the steeplechase after winning the event at the Spiders' Fred Hardy Invitational in March.

Senior teammate Jonathan Molz also raced in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Penn Relays, also qualifying for the NCAA Regional with his time of 9:04.89. The NCAA Regional qualifying mark was 9:07.00.

The Spiders return to the track this weekend in Amherst, Mass. for the 2008 A-10 Outdoor Track & Field Championship.