Courtney Bennigson: Emerging USA Triathlete Courtney Bennigson: Emerging USA Triathlete Ready to Take on the World. October 6, 2004 • When Courtney Bennigson '01 sets her mind on something there is no turning back. Just ask her mom, Cathy. "I had been visiting schools all over the country and was pretty much non-plussed by the whole experience of college hunting," said Bennigson. "On my way to visit Williams for the first time, on an ugly, cold, rainy day during March vacation, my mom and I were making our way through the hairpin turn and down into the Purple Valley, and I said “don’t quote me on this, but I think this is where I want to go.” She just said, “Can we at least see the campus before you make that decision?” It really was a visceral decision for me. I applied early and never applied to another school!" You need to know what the rest of the sporting world is starting to become aware of. Courtney Bennigson, former Eph standout in cross country (earning All-America recognition), a member of the indoor and outdoor track & field teams, is way ahead of schedule in her quest to represent the USA in the triathlon at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and maybe again in the 2012 Summer Games. "One of the realities of my life that is complicated by my erratic training schedule is the fact that I have to tell the USADA (the United States Anti-Doping Agency) where to find me 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, just in case they feel like dropping in for a random out-of-competition drug test," said Bennigson. "The UASDA dropped in twice in a matter of about two weeks this summer. We submit Athlete Location Forms once every quarter, and they are supposed to contain accurate travel, racing, and training schedules. You can imagine how hard it is to say where I’ll be three months from now, given that at the moment I don’t even know what time I’ll be at the pool next Monday, not to mention whether I’m racing in San Francisco on November 6th or in Brazil on November 7th!" Most triathletes, like marathoners, mature in their late-20s to mid 30s and that is why so many of the people in the U.S. who are involved with the sport are beginning to know of and be impressed by the development of Bennigson, age 25. By 2008 most of the current top USA female triathletes will be retired and Bennigson should be entering her peak phase in the triathlon. While at Williams, Bennigson's athletic accomplishments were mirrored by her success in the classroom, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a major in psychology. She also earned multiple Academic All-NESCAC honors. Growing up in Boston Bennigson was a serious swimmer from age seven until age 15, when a series of shoulder injuries began to interfere. Life can be a little funny at times. Surely no one would have guessed back then that Bennigson's commitment to swimming would lead her to the world of internationally competitive triathletes. Bennigson even terms the twist of fate as ironic. "Ironic, given that swimming is my biggest challenge now," she said. "Struggling with shoulder injuries for a couple years, I’d started running and biking for fun… well, actually for sanity." It's never been easy for Bennigson to just sit around and wait for things to happen. Being injured and having given up school sports to focus her efforts on swimming in 9th grade made her time out of the pool almost unbearable. Bennigson attended Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School (BB&N) a private day school, across the Charles River from Boston in Cambridge, Mass. By chance one day, Kevyn Fusco, a teacher at BB&N, who was also a triathlete, lent Bennigson a mountain bike so Courtney could get home. It was the first mountain bike Bennigson had ever ridden, there being few mountains in the metropolitan Boston area. "I teetered dangerously home from school, " remembered Bennigson. The next thing Bennigson knew, Fusco was suggesting that Courtney try a sprint triathlon. Fusco seems to remember that Courtney's first race was down on Cape Cod, when she competed with her and her husband, Scott. "I remember us laughing when we filled out Courtney's registration form and her birth year was the year Scott graduated from high school. It was the first time Scott and I ever felt dated." Bennigson's first triathlon was in Hyannis, Mass. (.25m swim, 10m bike, 3.1 m run), on June 17, 1995. She finished in 1:00:00 and was the first female in the under-19 age group and12th female over all, at the age of 15. From her very first triathlon Bennigson showed she could compete with older women. "When I enjoyed the sprint triathlon, Kevyn introduced me to a local team -- Team Psycho, most of whom were many years my senior and I was invited to join in on some training and local racing," said Bennigson. And the rest, as they say, is history or in this case, likely will be history. Fusco also introduced Bennigson to the notion that there were more triathlon competitions and events in the nation. "I wouldn't say that I knew I was introducing the U.S. Pro Champion to the sport back then, but I knew that if Courtney chose to pursue the sport, she would be very talented," said Fusco. "When she started training at the Olympic Center we knew we were going to be seeing Courtney's name a lot in the results section!" "Kevyn casually gave me notice of a Junior Olympic Triathlon camp that would take place in New Mexico that summer," said Bennigson. "For some reason the camp accepted my application, and I went on to have both the time of my life at the camp, and some early success in my first ‘big’ race. I was hooked and I never looked back. …with one exception: after graduating from high school and qualifying for the upcoming Junior Elite World Championships, I decided to take the entire rest of the season off from training and racing." The step up in competition and the intensity that accompanied that step suddenly started Bennigson thinking about where she was headed with all of this training and she began to question whether it could all still be fun. She was a little surprised at how quickly she had gone from competing because it was fun to being involved with the high-pressure world that is Junior National Team training. She was beginning to not look forward to racing, so she called a halt to her progress and took the summer off from training and worked at Starbucks before enrolling at Williams in the fall. Bennigson did not quit; she was testing herself. Did she really love training and competing in triathlons or would she not even miss it? "I was waiting to see whether I would feel relieved to be free of the sport or find myself missing it," said Bennigson. She knew the answer by summer's end when it was time to head over the Mohawk Trail and around that hairpin turn to Williams. "I was back in touch with what had been fun about the triathlon from the beginning – the challenge, the camaraderie, the sweat, the speed, the adrenaline – because I missed it all tremendously," said Bennigson. "I still think back to that summer on the days I wake up and can’t remember why I’m heading to the pool at 4:45 in the morning, or when I toe the line at a race and wonder why I’m not sitting safely behind a desk somewhere in corporate America. It’s fun, that’s why." Bennigson continued to train for triathlons while competing for the Ephs in cross country and track & field and made full use of the Ephs' athletic facilities throughout her stay in Williamstown. "We all knew that Courtney was a dedicated triathlete and we knew she could compete in cross country because it did not conflict with her training for events," noted Eph cross-country coach Peter Farwell. "She was always in incredible shape and was a strong contributor in the fall. Often she just trained through our indoor and outdoor track workouts, preparing for her triathlons in the spring and summer, but this arrangement seemed to work out perfectly for both Williams and Courtney." Bennigson values the time she spent at Williams and in Williamstown. "I miss the cohesiveness of the women’s cross-country running team at Williams,” said Bennigson. “ I have great friends and training partners now, but we don’t race as a team. Although I live in the foothills of the Rockies [Boulder, Colo.], I miss the feeling that the Berkshires are giving me a big, gentle hug." Without her gut check timeout from competing in triathlons the summer before attending Williams, there is no way Bennigson could be doing what she does now – train full-time, year round as a professional triathlete. Bennigson hit the big time for the first time barely a month after graduation, when she finished 4th in the 20-24 age group at the World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. "The National Team coaches from the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs basically met me at the finish line and invited me to go live at the Training Center as a member of the Triathlon Resident National Team," said Bennigson. "I went pro at that point because the Resident National Team is based on the idea of developing Olympic athletes, which means racing in the International Triathlon Union (ITU) circuit and that requires a pro (elite) license." Bennigson moved into the U.S. Olympic Training Center in September of 2001. Year-round coaching, access to the best nutritional advice, weight rooms, free room and board, and the opportunity to travel to competitions in Brazil, Holland, Japan, Newfoundland, Puerto Rico, Mexico and beyond made the training center worthwhile and allowed her to focus on training and competing. "Being on that Resident National Team was really a valuable experience and I made some close friends in my own sport as well as in others," noted Bennigson. "I had access to incredible resources for athletes thanks to the USOC, and most of all it was a great way to get my foot in the door of the ITU, and also to get my body and my mind used to managing a full-time training schedule." In September of 2002 Bennigson captured the Under-23-Elite U.S. National Championships and qualified for the World Championships. Unfortunately, she came down with mononucleosis later that fall (along with more than half her teammates!), and wound up as a spectator at the World Championships. Being named USA Triathlon’s U-23-Elite Female Athlete of the Year was little consolation to Bennigson, who now was committed to competing. "It turned out, though, that sharing viruses was only one drawback of life at the OTC,” said Bennigson. "The environment there is not for everyone, at least not forever. The combination of the design of the triathlon program, the tone set by our coaches, and the inherent challenge of living and training among athletes racing at the same level and with similar goals all began to detract from the fun of training and racing." Bennigson decided to leave in the summer of 2003 because she was struggling with injuries and felt she needed a change because she was too young to be developing such chronic problems. Leaving the USTOC was scary because the center provided name recognition as well as training facilities and financial support, but once again the young Bennigson demonstrated that she knew what was right for her. She explored several coaches and made a good connection with 2001 Female World Champion Siri Lindley, who had recently retired and begun coaching in Boulder. "It was an exciting move and I’m really glad I made it," said Bennigson. In Boulder, Bennigson trains with a small group of international athletes, mostly women. "These are some of the most bad-ass females I have ever come across," noted Bennigson. "Over the past year, my training partners have included a couple of the top Canadian Olympians, a top Hong Kong athlete, the U.S. Duathlon National Champion, the USA’s own Athens Olympics bronze medalist, Susan Williams... and oh yeah, a few men too." Lindley is a two-time World Champion who dominated the world rankings in 2001 and 2002. She knows what it takes to compete and how to win. If you are going to compete at the highest levels in the triathlon you need to focus your training and maximize the time you put in on all three disciplines – swimming 1,500m, biking 40k (24.8 miles) and running 10k (6.2 miles) Under Lindley's training program just about all of Bennigson's workouts are prescribed. A lot of it is done either as a group (swim workouts, especially) or at least with some company. Bennigson's housemate, for instance, is her main training partner. Training is important, but so is resting. "Rest isn’t so much prescribed as it is decided by default – when you’re not training, you’re resting," said Bennigson. "If you have any other commitments or work to do, it cuts into valuable resting time. Some us do work a bit, but it’s challenging, and requires artful balance. As for diet, that’s another pretty individual thing – some people struggle to find a race weight that works for them, others find it very naturally. It is definitely a challenge, though, to stay fuelled and also to get enough protein and fiber when we train multiple times a day." Bennigson has recorded successes in each age group and competitive level she has competed, but her most recent success is the one that opened the most eyes. In the Monster Challenge, which doubled as the U.S. Elite Championships, she finished second overall and was the first American to cross the finish line! She is the 2004 U.S. Elite National Champion. The Monster Challenge was held on Labor Day weekend in her hometown of Boston. Bennigson had trained under Lindley for just under a year when this breakthrough moment in a high-profile triathlon arrived. "It was incredible to win in Boston because my entire family was there (brother, sister-in-law, nephews, sister, brother-in-law, niece, parents), and also because I’ve raced on that course twice before and never been very happy with my performance, so the course itself was becoming a mental obstacle," said Bennigson. Finishing ahead of the legendary Karen Smyers made the day all the more special. Bennigson, who had been mentored by Smyers in the past, considers Smyers to be what the triathlon is all about. Bennigson never, ever allowed herself to even dream she could beat Smyers. "Frankly, no. …and I’m not sure if that’s because I didn’t think I’d be capable of it, or I just didn’t think I’d be capable of it before she retired, which for any normal human being would have been somewhere between winning both the ITU and Ironman World Championships, having three children, surviving cancer, severing a hamstring, and turning 43. Clearly, Karen is not a normal human being. I was thrilled to be able to beat her on that day, but she will never lose my respect as an athlete and a totally classy woman." Kathy Tremblay of Canada won the race in 1:56:44 and Bennigson was 23 seconds behind her and 11 seconds ahead of Smyers. The Legend herself, Smyers, was impressed with Courtney's performance in Boston and she had these comments moments afterward. "It was fun to be at least vying for another national title," said Smyers. "Courtney was really strong today and I think she has a great career in triathlon still ahead of her. I tried to get her to respect her elders by letting me catch her on the run, but it didn't work!" Also on hand in Boston on Labor Day was Kevyn Fusco. "I think my voice suffered more from cheering Courtney on that day than my body did racing the amateur race earlier that morning," said Fusco. "I'm so proud of Courtney." "Courtney is a natural athlete but the most important thing is she has an incredible work ethic, great desire and determination, and an uncompromising focus on achieving her dreams," said Lindley. "She has been working so hard and has done such a great job. If it weren't for some injuries throughout the spring and summer of this year, I truly believe that there would be even more wins on her resume than there are presently." A flat tire in the first of two U.S. Olympic qualifying events last summer caused Bennigson to finish in 8th place. Only 15 women are invited to compete in the U.S. Olympic triathlon trials and the top three based on combined results from the two trials are selected to represent the USA at the Olympics. In the second trials event, Bennigson was less than 100% due to a back injury and still finished sixth. She was the youngest competitor at the trials by three years! Keeping Bennigson healthy, fit, and strong is a primary goal for Lindley. "We were focusing on having Courtney not only 100% healthy for the USA Elite National Championships, but our hope was to have her fitter and stronger and more confident than the rest of the field," said Lindley. "I came up with the outline of what had to be done in order to accomplish this and Courtney in her dedicated and determined way, set about doing every single training session with 100% effort, focus and discipline. She trained hard, she trained properly, she took care of all of the little things, which in the end separated 1st place from 2nd and 3rd." Lindley likes what she has seen so far from Bennigson and is excited about her potential in the sport. "I am so proud of her for all the hard work she has done and can honestly say that, if she continues doing what she is doing and stays healthy, Beijing is a very realistic goal for her to set for herself," said Lindley. "You can look for her to start emerging in the top 10 in World Cup races and being at the top of the podium in national races. She is an incredible athlete and a wonderful person and I have great faith in what she will accomplish in the future." Bennigson's last visit to Williams came “by accident” last fall. She and her mom were driving back from Colorado to Boston when they decided to spend their last travel night in Williamstown. "I knew I’d be able to use the pool at Williams, so I could get in a couple workouts," said Bennigson. "After an evening swim we went to a late dinner at the Water St. Grill and I found myself in the middle of homecoming celebrations. It was like the twilight zone – as if my classmates had never left!" Being the only member of her family not living in New England sometimes makes it difficult for Bennigson to stay and train in Colorado. She doesn't have much time for hobbies and free time is now rest time, but she has her eyes on the prize and she is determined to get to Beijing in 2008. Bennigson is pleased, but not satisfied, with where she is right now and she will not reveal what checkpoints and milestones she and Coach Lindley have established. "I'm making progress and progress is definitely the operative word," said Bennigson. "I'm nowhere near where I want to be eventually." The U.S. and world triathletes are now officially on notice that Courtney Bennigson is on the verge of establishing herself as one of the top athletes in the sport. This article originally appeared on the Williams College website's Sports Information section. Back to Articles Page

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