Austin Benton Season 2007

Major: General Studies
Events: 400M (IN: 46.81; OUT: 46.95), 800M (IN: 1:52.66; OUT: 1:52.22)

2-time All-American
NCAA Mideast Regional Champion

Career
Wrapped up his four-year career as a two-time All-American as a member of the Tigers’ fearsome 4×400-meter relay team … Earned All-America honors during his freshman and sophomore seasons … Was also a member of the foursome that won the NCAA Mideast Regional title in 2004 … Ran the 400-meter leg on the squad that shattered the indoor school record in the distance medley relay at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in 2006 … Team shaved more than four seconds off of the previous record with a time of 9:41.04 … Finished his career ranked No. 10 on LSU’s all-time indoor performance list in the 400 meters with a career best time of 46.81 … Also finished with an outdoor career best time of 46.95 in the event … Showed his dedication in the classroom as he was a four-time selection to the SEC Academic Honor Roll … Was also named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team in 2006.

2007
Primarily a 400-meter runner during his senior season … Clocked a 47.78 in the prelims at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships to finish 22nd in the event … Opened the outdoor season by placing third in the open quarter at the LSU Tiger Classic (47.59) … Also ran the 400 at the Sun Angel Classic, finishing ninth with a time of 47.66 … Lined up in the 200-meter dash at the LSU Tiger Classic (21.35) and Sun Angel Classic (21.65) during the outdoor season … Ran the third leg on the 4×400-meter relay team that clocked the fastest preliminary time of 3:07.56 at the 113th Penn Relays in April … During the indoor season, ran the second leg on the distance medley relay team that placed fifth at the SEC Indoor Championships … Foursome clocked the eighth-fastest time in school history at 9:56.68 … Won the 400-meter title at the LSU Twilight Invitational with a seasonal best time of 48.68 … Ran the 800 meters at the Tyson Invitational (1:56.68) and New Balance Collegiate Invitational (2:07.33) during the indoor season … Was a standout in the classroom in 2007 as he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll following the season.

2006
Ran the 400-meter leg on the Tigers’ distance medley relay team that shattered the indoor school record, winning the New Balance Invitational in 9:41.04 … Time shaved more than four seconds off the previous record of 9:45.64 set in 1995 … Individually, was an NCAA regional qualifier in the 400 meters during the outdoor season … Qualified after clocking a season-best 46.97 at the LSU Alumni Gold … Ran 47.29 at the Miami Elite Invitational … During the indoor campaign, scored for the Tigers in the open quarter at the SEC Championships, placing sixth overall (47.26) … Ran slightly faster in the prelims of the conference championships, stopping the clock at 47.24 … Had other top times of 47.38 at the Tyson Invitational and 47.43 at the Alex Wilson Open.

2005
Earned All-America honors for the second straight season, running the second leg on the Tigers’ 4×400-meter relay team that finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships (3:04.96) … Individually, turned in a personal-best indoor mark of 46.81 in the 400 meters at the NCAA Qualifiers … Won the 400 meters at both the Bayou Bengal Invitational (48.23) and the LSU Twilight (48.42) … Outdoors, advanced to the NCAA Mideast Regionals in the open quarter … Recorded a top time of 46.95 at the SEC Championships … Ran 47.26 at the Sun Angel Classic.

2004
Earned All-America honors as a member of the Tigers’ 4×400-meter relay team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships … Ran the second leg on the relay team that won the NCAA Mideast Regional title (3:05.20) … Won the 400 meters with a season-best time of 47.02 at the Tiger Relays … Placed 12th at the SEC Championships (47.56) and 19th at the regional meet (47.24) … Posted a top 800-meter time of 1:52.22 at the SEC Outdoor Championships … During the indoor season, recorded top marks of 48.50 in the 400 meters and 1:52.66 in the 800 meters.

HIGH SCHOOL
Trained under Ivery Tabb at University High School in Baton Rouge … Was the 800 meter state champion in 2001 and 2002 … Also played soccer as a prep … Was a three-time all-district selection and a two-time all-metro honoree.

PERSONAL
Full name is Austin Hardy Benton … Born Nov. 28, 1983 … Son of Angel McCall and Steve Benton … Has two older siblings, Heidi and Denver, and a younger sister, Katelyn.