Benson shines in Philadelphia Marathon
Former Kane standout Chelsea Benson turned in a stellar performance as she finished the AACR Philadelphia Marathon with a time of 2:42.14 which placed her 6th overall in the women's division. There were more than 2,800 women finishers on a cool and virtually windless day that saw both the men's and women's course records fall. “It was a solid performance, leaving me hungry for my next,” Benson said. “Coming for you” sub-2:40!” Benson, of Ithaca, New York is a Public Programs Coordinator for the Lab of Ornithology at
Cornell University and the mother of 7-year old twins. “I am part of an informal training group in Ithaca and six of my teammates and I ran the races hosted by Philadelphia. Her build up race this fall was Hartford (CT) Half Marathon October 9 where she placed 2nd in a time of 1:18:14. This spring her training will be more speed oriented with the goal of running a 1:16 half marathon. She still had not set her target race for the spring but is considering Indianapolis Mini and the Buffalo Half Marathon. Next summer, she will return to marathon training with the goal of breaking 2:40 and qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials. She is coached by Jon Clemens.
Benson a 2000 Kane High School graduate and former Mt. Jewett native has been competing in several races since her graduation from Kane. Benson was a standout runner for Kane in Track and Cross Country. She still is on the books of All Time Kane records in several catagories. Her tops in high school are 3rd in the 1600m run behind 2-Time Olympian Amy Rudolph and
Dani Kocjancic and 4th in the 3200m Run behind Rudolph, Kocjancic and Lori Robinson. She was a PIAA State qualifier in the 4x800m Relay, 1600m run as well as cross country. She was coached in High School by Jim Sirianni and Dan Johnston.
After graduation she went to Allegheny College (Meadville, Pa.) where she continued to run cross country and track. Competing at DIII NCAA Championships in both cross country and track, her main event is the 3000m Steeplechase. She held the school steeplechase record until just recently.