Friends of Section IX
Track & Field
Hall of Fame
Benn Fields
A 1972 graduate of Washingtonville High School, Benn was undefeated in both the high jump and triple jump in the Orange County League and County Championships in his senior year. He set county records of 6’7” in the high jump and 44’7 ½” in the triple jump, winning the 1972 New York State Championship in the high jump with a leap of 6’6”. Benn went on to Seton Hall
University where he won the 1975 Penn Relays high jump at 7’1 ½” and finished fourth at NCAA National Championship. In 1979 he won silver medals in the high jump at the Pan American Games and Soviet Spartakiad. Between 1977 and 1979, Benn placed fourth, second and first in high jump at the AAU National Championships. He earned a spot on the 1980 Olympic team by clearing 7’5” but was unable to compete at the Moscow Games due to an American boycott. Benn was elected to the Seton Hall University and SUNY New Paltz University Halls of Fame in 1982 and 2005 respectively.