The reigning Canadian 800-metres champion and 2015 IAAF World Championships semi-finalist, Fiona Benson of Dawson Creek, B.C., will take part in the invitational women's 800-metres at the 2016 Hershey Canadian Indoor Championships. The Canadian will face a talented international field on the evening of February 20 at Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard.
The meet, which takes place Feb. 19-21 in Montreal, serves as a national championship for youth and junior age category athletes, the event also features competition from Canada's national team athletes in Open and Invitational events.
Benson is a former Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association National Champion. She earned a gold medal for the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves at the 2010 CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championships in Fredericton, NB.
For Benson, the jump to becoming a world-class middle distance runner surprised her as much as anyone else. Along with her Canadian title & World Championship appearance, Benson achieved the 2016 Olympic Games qualifying standards in both the 800-metres and 1500-metres. "Last year, I didn't have any kind of plan going in. I just kind of flew by the seat of my pants through it all."
Always one of the top runners during her time in the CIS, Benson showed a lot of poise and raced with confidence during the championship portion of the 2015 outdoor season. At the Canadian Track & Field Championships in the 800-metres, Benson took home gold in a field that included the eventual World Championships silver medalist (Melissa Bishop). "When I was moving up through the races, Portland, Canadian Nationals and Worlds, I didn't notice the jump up in intensity. You just kind of line up and race; racing has always made me a little nervous no matter the level. I just take each race as it comes," said Benson.
It's taken a little time for her whirlwind season to sink in. "I didn't really notice the difference until I came back to racing. Racing at the Golden Bear, I realized just how different the university circuit was from what I experienced at Worlds," said Benson. "I love the tight knit team relationships and atmosphere of university track, but being back just gave me a different perspective."
After being coached by Mark Bomba at Trinity Western University, Benson has spent the last few months training in Calgary under the guidance of Mike Van Tighem. "Mike was one of Mark's first coaches. Their coaching philosophies are similar, a lot of the workouts feel familiar," said Benson. Her plan is to move back to train with Bomba in B.C. later this winter.
Her goals are pretty simple in 2016. "This year is about trying to stabilize my training and racing schedule, my coaches and I know what works and we'll try to replicate the parts that worked last year," said Benson.
Benson is looking forward to the opportunity to be back in Montreal and compete in her first Hershey Canadian Indoor Championships. "Nationals in Montreal will definitely be a highlight. I've competed once in Montreal and it was awesome. We only got to spend one night, but I am so excited to be coming back," said Benson.
Joining Benson in the international field are a group of talented Canadian and American half-milers. Fellow Canadians, Rachel Francois of Edmonton, Alta., Jenna Westaway of Calgary, Alta., and Laurence Côté of Quebec, Que, will be joined by Americans, Chrishuna Williams, Lea Wallace, and Charlene Lipsey.
- Courtesy of Athletics Canada
