Bio

As a Senior: Recorded his college best in three different events this season... He started the season with a personal best at the 2017 UT Track Classic (3/3) where he recorded a time of 2:00.16 in the 800M...He then recorded the fastest time in his collegiate campaign in the 5000M at the USF Bulls Invitational(3/17) with a time of 15:24.99...Finally, he recorded a personal best in the 1500M with a time of 3:55.31 at the USF Invitational (4/21).

As a Sophomore: CoSida Academic All-District… USTFCCCA All-Academic team… SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll…D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award…Competed in six events for Tampa on the year with four top 20 finishes…Kicked off the season against USF Open (9/5) running a time of 26:47.88, and placed 17th….Competed in Early Bird Classic (9/12) placing 11th running 21:57.50…Ran in the UF Invite (9/20) in 26:11.34…Finished the Louisville Invite (10/4) in 26:05.06…Completed the SSC Finals (11/8) in 27:19.40 and placed 19th…Advanced to the NCAA Regional (11/22), and placed 37th turning in a time of 34:18.74.

As a Freshman: USTFCCCA All-Academic...SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll with perfect 4.0 GPA...Competed in six races…Made Spartans debut at the UF Invite with an 8k time of 26:50.81 (9/14)…Finished top 20 in the Sunshine State Conference Finals running the 8k in 27:09 (10/26)…Competed in the NCAA Regional with a 10k time of 35:18.50 finishing 41st (11/9).

High School: Graduated from Newsome High School, where he ran for coaches Greene and Sears…Placed third at state track finals in 3,200…Two-time all-state selection in track…Was also named all-county on two occasions…Two-time track captain and team MVP following two seasons…Two-time all-state cross country selection…Was twice named all-county in cross country…Two-time team captain earned pair of MVP honors…Received Leadership Award while playing basketball…Chosen to participate in FACA Senior All-Star Meet for cross country.

Personal: Volunteered for Meals on Wheels and also served as a math tutor…Was a mentor for abused and abandoned children and a camp counselor…Also donated time with a high school basketball camp…AP Scholar with distinction…Graduated in top 1-percent of class…Semifinalist for Ayn Rand “The Fountainhead” Essay Contest (top 175 out of 4,000 submitted essays)…Named Science Student of the Year…Full name is Lars Kristian Benner…Son of Brent and Cindy Benner…Has three siblings, Leif, Bayleigh and Marcella…Biochemistry major…Birthdate: 12/23/1994.

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