Benjamin, Campos earn All-America Status at NCAA Nationals

Amelia Bejamin of UAlbany competes in the high jump at the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
UAlbany first year student Amelia Bejamin competes in the high jump at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. (Photo by Jaime Dickinson/UAlbany Athletics)

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 11, 2024) — Amelia Benjamin and Ludith Campos have earned second-team All-America status following their performances at the NCAA Women's Track and Field National Championships in Eugene, Ore. 

Campos finished in 15th place overall while setting a new UAlbany and Dominican Republic record with her toss of 205 feet, 9 inches in the hammer throw, while Benjamin finished tied for 15th after clearing a height of 5 feet, 9.75 inches in the high jump.

UAlbany thrower Ludith Campos competes in the hammer throw at the NCAA Championships.
Graduate student Ludith Campos competes in the hammer throw at the NCAA Championships. (Photo by Jaime Dickinson/UAlbany Athletics)

Campos, a graduate student who competes for the Dominican Republic, improved on each throw during the competition, which was held on June 7. She set her new personal mark with her final throw, which saw her finish 15th overall in her NCAA Championships debut. As a result, Campos became a second-team All-American to go along with her national record.

“Ludith is a student of the event and has found mastery in her way of doing the hammer. She is very intentional with her preparation and is a fierce competitor, usually having her biggest moments when the lights shine brightest," said Abel Gilet, Great Danes assistant coach for throws. "Her personal bests throughout the postseason leading to her national qualification is a testament to her competitive stamina as we knew it would be a long year filled with challenges and we wanted her to be at her best when it mattered most. We had a plan get a mark and build off of it at nationals, and that's exactly what she did en route to her school record performance."

Benjamin, a first-year student from Ellenville, N.Y., cleared the first two heights on her first attempts. She was unable to clear the next height of 5 feet, 11.25 inches, which would have set a new personal best.

By finishing in a tie for 15th place, Benjamin also becomes a second-team All-American for the Great Danes.

"I am unbelievably proud of Amelia. I knew when recruiting her and getting to know her and her family, she was going to be a special athlete for UAlbany," said Lucy Ford, assistant coach for vertical jumps and multis. "She had standout indoor and outdoor seasons with two conference titles and an NCAA appearance, not to mention the records she broke along the way. She's only a freshman yet she handles herself like a seasoned athlete — composed, focused and ready to compete on the largest stage. We were able to compete with the best [at nationals] and pull inspiration and motivation for the coming years. She has already done big things for UAlbany and there's so much she can accomplish.”