Anna Camp-Bennett
Anna Camp-Bennett is an American middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 m and 1500 m. Competing for Brigham Young University, she won the 2021 [NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships|1500 m at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships].
After graduating from BYU, Camp-Bennett signed professionally with Adidas, and has since set personal bests of 2:00.60 in the 800 m, 4:04.99 in the 1500 m, and 4:26.95 in the mile, while remaining under the tutelage of her college coach Diljeet Taylor.
Athletics career
High School
Camp-Bennett attended Millard High School in her hometown of Fillmore, Utah, from 2012 to 2016, where she was an eight-time state champion on the track in events ranging from the 400 m to the 3200 m. as well as being a three-time state cross country champion.Brigham Young University
Because she competed at the 2A level in high school, a classification reserved for smaller schools, Camp-Bennett lacked the competition to run faster times to facilitate increased attention to be recruited. However, BYU women's track and field coach, Patrick Shane gave her an opportunity, citing her impressive range from the 400 m up to cross country.2017
In fall 2016, Camp-Bennett enrolled at BYU and joined the [BYU Cougars|Cougars track and field and cross country teams], making her Cougar debut during the 2017 track season. That year, she would go on to set a personal best of 2:08.18 and finish sixth at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in the 800 m, as well as qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary Round over 1500 m,2018
The following year, 2018, competing in the 1500 m at the NCAA West Prelims, she finished just one spot out of qualifying for the 2018 NCAA Division I [Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Championships], but set a 4:18.08 personal best in the process.2019
Competing at her first national championship in 2019, Camp-Bennett competed alongside Brenna Porter, Lauren Ellsworth, and Erica Birk in the DMR at the 2019 NCAA Division I [Indoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Indoor Championships]. With Camp running the leadoff 1200 m leg, they placed second.During the outdoor season, Camp-Bennett qualified for her first NCAA Outdoor Championships competing in the 800 m, after setting a personal best of 2:03.69 at the West Prelims. At the NCAA Championships in Austin, she qualified for the final, placing eighth.
2021
In March 2021, Camp-Bennett finished eleventh at the postponed 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships, leading the BYU women to a national title. On the track, she qualified in both the 800 m and 1500 m for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. She didn't qualify for the final in the 800 m, but in the 1500 m she upset the field to take the win in a personal best and BYU school record of 4:08.53.Just one week after her NCAA victory, she competed in the 1500 m at the 2020 [United States Olympic trials (track and field)|US Olympic Trials], advancing to the semi-finals before being eliminated.
Camp-Bennett's final collegiate race came at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships, in Tallahassee, Florida, where she placed 12th overall as part of the second place BYU women's team.
Professional
2022
In January 2022, Camp-Bennett signed a professional contract with Adidas, choosing to remain with her BYU coach, Diljeet Taylor. She made her pro debut at the 2022 Millrose Games, placing eleventh in the Wanamaker Mile. Outdoors, she concentrated on the 800 m, running a personal best of 2:00.60 at the Portland Track Festival and reaching the semi-finals of the USA Outdoor Championships.2023
In 2023, she shifted focus to the 1500 m, running just one 800 m all year. She failed to reach the 1500 m final at the USA Outdoor Championships, but ran a personal best of 4:04.99 for third at the Ed Murphy Classic in Memphis, Tennessee.2024
In February 2024, she ran a mile personal best of 4:26.95 to take eleventh at the Millrose Games and the following week placed third behind Nikki Hiltz and Emily Mackay over 1500 m at the USA Indoor Championships.Personal life
Camp-Bennett is the daughter of Carl and Kristine Camp and was raised in the town of Fillmore, Utah, a town of just 2,500 people. She has seven siblings: Katie, Josh, Mandee, Nathan, Jaren, Audrey and Kara and majored in Recreation Management at BYU.In 2019, she married Kieran Bennett at the Payson Utah Temple. She and her husband are members of The [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints].