A Brief Chat With Ben Bruce

12/03/2010 12:37 AM

By Peter Gambaccini

Photo by Jiro Mochizuki/Photo Run

Ben Bruce of the Oregon Track Club demonstrated impressive versatility and range in 2010. His fourth place at USA Cross Country qualified him for World Cross Country (where he was 80th). His sixth at the USA 20K  in 59:59 got him on the American squad at the World Half Marathon (where he was 56th). And his second place in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the USA Track & Field Championships would have gotten him to the World Championships in track if there had been any such championships this year. Bruce's new steeplechase personal best of 8:22.88 ranks him #2 on the U.S. list for 2010, behind Dan Huling. Bruce also ran 13:31.87 for 5000 meters in 2010. He was second to Robert Cheseret in the USA 5K on the roads in Providence in September, as both men were timed in 14:01. He was a NACAC 5000-meter gold medalist in 2007.  While at Cal State-San Luis Obispo, he was the 2005 Big West champion in the steeplechase and the 5000. He had earlier attended San Diego Mesa Community College and been the 2002 Cal Juco steeplechase champion.