Assistant Coach / Pacer
BEN’S STORY
Ben joined the team as an athlete in January of 2014, still in the middle of a career that had already seen him represent the United States on three World Championship teams (track, cross country, and the half marathon). As a member of HOKA NAZ Elite in 2014, Ben won five Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons, a feat that garnered him attention throughout the running world, crossing over into the masses. He would go on to to represent the U.S. at another World Half Marathon Championship (2016) and qualified for, and competed in, an astounding 17 straight USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships from 2003 through 2019.
AS A COACH
Ben added the role of assistant coach to his duties at the beginning of 2018, though he continued to compete as an athlete as well. His coaching role has grown and now much of his running centers around pacing duties for various HOKA NAZ Elite athletes.
In his three+ years as a coach, the team has produced many of its best performances of all time, including four top-20 finishes at the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, led by the Women of NAZ who finished first, sixth and eighth. The women have also won four individual U.S. National Titles and three different athletes have run under 2:30 for the marathon. The men have garnered three different top ten performances at the Boston and New York City Marathons. The team has represented the United States at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country Challenge and the World Cross Country Championships and our international athletes have won a New Zealand national title and notched sixth place finishes at the European Championships and the Pan American Games.
Ben also works with runners of all ages and abilities, along with his wife, through their coaching service, Running with the Bruces.
NCAA STATS
Ben ran collegiately at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in his home state of California. There he was a two-time NCAA All American in the steeplechase with a personal best of 8:33.70. His 13:40.9 best at 5,000 meters remains a school record.