Name: Ben Blankenship
Sport: Track and Field
Event(s): 1,500-meter
Height: 5-10
Weight: 140
DOB: 12/15/1988
Birthplace: Minneapolis , Minn.
Hometown: Stillwater, Minn.
High School: Stillwater High School (Stillwater, Minn.) ‘07
College: University of Minnesota ‘11, American Studies
Team/Club: Nike OTC
Coach(es): Mark Rowland
Olympic Experience
- Olympian (2016)
- Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 8th
Other Career Highlights
- 2016 USA 1 Mile Road Championships, gold
- 2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 4th (1,500m)
- 2015 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, silver (1,600m, 3,200m)
- 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, 5th (3,000m)
- 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 10th (1,500m)
Personal:
Son of Richard and Patricia Blankenshi...Anchored the U.S. men’s distance medley relay to a world record 9:15.50 at the 2015 World Relays in the Bahamas...Two-time NCAA All-American at the University of Minnesota...Won the 2013 Minnesota Mile, setting a course record of 3:52.7, the fastest mile ever run in his home state...Began his collegiate career at Mississippi State University before transferring to Minnesota...Greatest inspiration is his University of Minnesota coach, Steve Plasencia…Trains in Eugene, Oregon.
