University of Tennessee Athletics
Former Lady Vol Benita Fitzgerald Selected To USTFCCCA Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame
March 22, 2024 | Track & Field
NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Friday afternoon that former Lady Vol track star Benita Fitzgerald has been named a 2024 inductee into the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame for track & field and cross country.
Fitzgerald broke barriers and records as a hurdler at Tennessee, becoming the first collegiate athlete to finish the 100-meter hurdles in under 13 seconds. Her groundbreaking time of 12.97 at the 1982 Penn Relays was just the beginning, as she continued to push the limits, eventually lowering her best time to 12.84 in 1983.
Fitzgerald's speed and agility earned her back-to-back NCAA titles in the 100 hurdles in 1982 and 1983, adding to her 1981 AIAW Championship victory and bringing her total collegiate national crowns in the event to three.
Fitzgerald's excellence extended beyond the collegiate arena; she was a formidable competitor on the national stage, consistently finishing at the top of the TAC national championships throughout her college career. Her senior year was marked by significant achievements on the international circuit, as she reached the finals at the inaugural World Championships and captured gold at the Pan-American Games.
Additionally, Fitzgerald showcased her versatility and speed by contributing to the U.S. 4×100 relay team's gold medal win at the 1981 World University Games, further cementing her legacy as one of the top U.S. hurdlers of her time.
One year removed from her illustrious collegiate career, Fitzgerald struck gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles with a mark of 12.84 seconds. She became UT's first track & field alum to win Olympic gold and was the first American to claim an Olympic title in the event.
Fitzgerald will be UT's second inductee into the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, joining her former teammate Joetta Clark who was enshrined in 2023. The Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame was established by the USTFCCCA in 2022 to honor the best of the best in collegiate track & field and cross country and recognize the achievements of athletes who have left a lasting mark on the sport during their time in college.
The 2024 induction class will be enshrined on Sunday, June 2, at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Oregon.
Fitzgerald broke barriers and records as a hurdler at Tennessee, becoming the first collegiate athlete to finish the 100-meter hurdles in under 13 seconds. Her groundbreaking time of 12.97 at the 1982 Penn Relays was just the beginning, as she continued to push the limits, eventually lowering her best time to 12.84 in 1983.
Fitzgerald's speed and agility earned her back-to-back NCAA titles in the 100 hurdles in 1982 and 1983, adding to her 1981 AIAW Championship victory and bringing her total collegiate national crowns in the event to three.
Fitzgerald's excellence extended beyond the collegiate arena; she was a formidable competitor on the national stage, consistently finishing at the top of the TAC national championships throughout her college career. Her senior year was marked by significant achievements on the international circuit, as she reached the finals at the inaugural World Championships and captured gold at the Pan-American Games.
Additionally, Fitzgerald showcased her versatility and speed by contributing to the U.S. 4×100 relay team's gold medal win at the 1981 World University Games, further cementing her legacy as one of the top U.S. hurdlers of her time.
One year removed from her illustrious collegiate career, Fitzgerald struck gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles with a mark of 12.84 seconds. She became UT's first track & field alum to win Olympic gold and was the first American to claim an Olympic title in the event.
Fitzgerald will be UT's second inductee into the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, joining her former teammate Joetta Clark who was enshrined in 2023. The Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame was established by the USTFCCCA in 2022 to honor the best of the best in collegiate track & field and cross country and recognize the achievements of athletes who have left a lasting mark on the sport during their time in college.
The 2024 induction class will be enshrined on Sunday, June 2, at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Oregon.
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