Ben Bruce
Event: 3,000m steeplechase
Height: 6-1
Weight: 150
PR: 8:19.10 (2011)
Born: 09/10/1982
Current Residence: Flagstaff, Ariz.
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
High School: Mt. Carmel (San Diego, Calif.) HS ‘00
College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ’05; San Diego Mesa CC ’02
Coach: Greg McMillan
Agent: Ray Flynn
Sponsor: adidas
Club:
International Championships
2007 NACAC 5,000m champion (14:27.90)
3rd at NACAC steeplechase (8:56.09)
USA Championships
2010 USA Outdoor runner-up (8:30.87)
Collegiate Championships
2005 Big West Conference champion
2002 Big West Conference runner-up
About Ben
Bruce graduated from Mt. Carmel high school in San Diego, Calif., where he played a variety of sports including cross-country, soccer and golf. Despite being one of the best steeplechasers in the country, Bruce didn’t compete in track and field in high school. He snuck over to the team to run the mile just once, but that got him suspended from the golf team, which is where he spend most of his time. He then went on to attend San Diego Community College where he talked the coach into letting him try the steeplechase to “break up the monotony” of cross country. After two years in San Diego he transferred to Cal Poly. A former Big West Conference champion, he set a new PR of 8:19.10 in 2011, marking the fifth year in a row that he has lowered his PR. Engaged to marathoner and McMillan Elite teammate Stephanie Rothstein.
Results
2012: 1st at Murfreesboro (8:26.08); 1st at Kingston (8:34.17); 2nd at Guadeloupe (8:39.21); 4th at Jacksonville Gate River Run in 15km (44:47); 9th at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in 3000m (7:59.10); 5th at USA Indoors in 3000m (8:11.82).
2011: Reached the “A” standard to reach World Outdoors and finished 9th in first round (8:39.96); 5th at USA Outdoors (8:37.22); 1st at Heusden-Zolder (8:26.16); 5th at Barcelona (8:19.10).
2010: Runner-up at USA Outdoors (8:30.87); 4th at USA Cross Country Champs (35:15), 3rd at Payton Jordan Cardinal Invite (8:28.76); 80th at World Cross Country Champs (35.56); 3rd at Gateshead (8:22.88).
2009: 5th at USA Outdoors (8:36.76); 1st at Payton Jordan Classic (8:26.08).
2008: 12th at Olympic Trials (8:52.40).
2007: 7th at USA Outdoors (8:33.12); 1st in 5,000m at NACAC (14:27.90); 3rd in steeplechase at NACAC (8:56.09).
2006: 12th at USA Outdoors (8:42.84).
2005: 6th at NCAA Outdoors (8:33.81); 18th in opening round at USA Outdoors (8:52.34); Big West Conference steeple champ.
2004: 12th in opening round at Olympic Trials (8:57.64).
2003: 9th at NCAA Outdoors (8:39.28); 2nd at Big West Champs.
2002: California JUCO champ.
2001: 3rd at USA Junior Champs; Cal JUCO runner-up.
USA/World Rankings and Personal Bests
2011: Outdoor bests – 8:19.10 (No. 2 in the USA, No. 33 in the world)
2010: Outdoor bests – 8:22.88 (No. 2 in the USA, No. 37 in the world)
2009: Outdoor bests – 8:26.08 (No. 3 in the USA, No. 47 in the world)
2008: Outdoor bests – 8:32.57 (No. 11 in the USA)
2007: Outdoor bests – 8:32.74 (No. 10 in the USA)
2006: Outdoor bests – 8:32.68 (No. 7 in the USA)
2005: Outdoor bests – 8:33.70 (No. 9 in the USA)
2004: Outdoor bests – 8:40.44
2003: Outdoor bests – 8:39.10
2002: Outdoor bests – 8:58.40
2001: Outdoor bests – 9:26.15