Juli Speights Benson (2002) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame

Juli Speights Benson

Induction:
2002
Class:
1992

Distance runner Juli Speights Henner was JMU's first U.S. Olympian and the first female athlete at JMU to earn Division I All-America honors in track.

She ran the 1,500 meters at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games after placing second at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, although a foot injury limited her performance in Atlanta. She took the bronze medal in the mile at the 1997 IAAF International Grand Prix Final, a race held in Fukuoka, Japan, that featured the top 12 runners in the world. Her post-JMU accomplishments also include the following: Atlanta Grand Prix 1,500 champion (1996); Penn Relays Olympic Development 1,500 champion (1996); and World University Games 1,500 runner-up (1993 and 1995). A versatile runner, her times in the 800 and 3,000 as well as the 1,500 ranked her among the top American women in those races.

At JMU she finished 10th in the 1,500 at the 1992 NCAA Championships, was a two-time All-East performer in both the 1,500 meters and the indoor mile (1991, 1992), and won Colonial Athletic Association championships in the 800 (1991) and 1,500 (1991, 1992). She won JMU's first Eastern College Athletic Conference championship (1,500 in 1992), and her double-win (800 and 1,500) at the 1991 CAA Meet earned her the Athlete of the Meet award. She was All-East in cross country in 1992 and earned All-CAA cross country honors three times. She was named JMU's 1992-93 Female Athlete of the Year.