About Gordon Benfield

Gordon was born and raised in Southern California where the climate contributed to his well rounded enthusiasm for all sports, beginning with little league baseball. After moving to Minnesota (football and hockey country) at the age of 14, he tried out for the high school football team and was cut on the first day. His next attempt at team sports came at the encouragement of a friend who suggested he run with the cross-country team. His first workout was a two mile time trial. After the time trial the coach wanted to know who he was and told Gordon that he had just set the school record in a practice run. This started Gordon’s running career and he has not stopped.

He went on to set several school records and in 1971 had the best time in the State of Minnesota for the two-mile at 9.23, until that time was beaten in a State meet. During Gordon’s last two years of high school, he qualified for the State cross-country meets where he finished 11th his junior year and 5th his senior year, earning All-State honors.

Gordon was offered a full athletic scholarship to the University of Minnesota until a poor performance at a State meet in which he ran 9.59 and finished 13th eliminated that opportunity. He then enrolled at Golden Valley Lutheran Community College where he was a two time cross-country, all-American. In his freshman year at Golden Valley, he finished 5th in the nation and was national runner-up his sophomore year.

Gordon then accepted a full scholarship to Murray State University in Murray Kentucky, a Ohio Valley Conference school. Gordon finished 11th, then 9th in his conference meets. His senior year at Murray he was the only American in the top 10 of the OVC. Murray is where Gordon became a track runner. He finished his college career with the following PR’s:

  • 800 1.51
  • Mile 4.03
  • 5K 14.22
  • 10K 30.22

After graduation Gordon took a few years off from running and played a lot of softball and golf. He started to train and race again after gaining weight. Gordon ran in many national road and cross-country races and finally won his first national age group (45-49) cross-country championship in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1998 USATF 8K.

Gordon started coaching club runners more than 20 years ago and has seen many of his runners achieve their goals and set PR’s from the mile to the marathon (see testimonials section). His coaching clinics include weekly speed work sessions with as many as thirty runners attending each week and a fall training program for marathoners; many of whom have gone on to qualify for the Boston Marathon as well as did Gordon in 1996.

In 1998 Gordon had his best year as a Master runner with the following PR’s:

  • 1500 4:10
  • 5K 15:22
  • 8K 25:58
  • 10K 32:31
  • 15K 51:21
  • Half-marathon 1:12

Today, Gordon enjoys running at the national level in a masters program with the Indiana Invaders; a club based out of Indianapolis.