Ben Flanagan
Benjamin Flanagan (born 11 January 1995)[1] is a Canadian middle and long-distance runner. Flanagan is currently the Canadian record holder in the 10 km and 20 km road races. He commonly goes by the name "Ben".
![]() Flanagan competing at the Hayward Field in Eugene in 2018 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Born | January 11, 1995 |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Employer | On |
| Sport | |
| Country | Canada |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) | Middle-, Long-distance running |
| Club | Very Nice Track Club |
| Turned pro | 2018 |
High school career
On the track he was second in the 2000m run at the 2010 Canadian Youth Nationals. The next year while competing in the 3000m he had another second-place finish at Canadian Youth Nationals which got him selected to represent Canada at the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France where he placed 16th in the 1500m.[2]
College career
Flanagan attended The University of Michigan in Anna Arbor, Michigan. While there, he was coached by three-time Olympian and fellow Canadian Kevin Sullivan. Flanagan was the Big Ten 10,000m champion in 2016 and 2018, the 2017 NCAA Great Lake Regional Cross Country champion, and won the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships 10,000m by running 28:34.53 and passing Vincent Kiprop of Alabama in the final second.[2]
Professional career
On September 4, 2018, he tweeted that he was joining Reebok Boston Track Club to be coached under Coach Chris John Fox.[3] On January 12, 2022, he announced on Instagram that he was leaving the Reebok Boston Track Club.[4] The next week, in another Instagram post he announced that had signed a contract with On and was moving back to Ann Arbor to train with the Very Nice Track Club under coach Ron Warhurst.[5][6]
On October 23, 2022, Flanagan competed in the Valencia Half Marathon. While he only finished 18th overall, he beat fellow Canadian Cam Levins by 4 seconds becoming the new Canadian Half Marathon Record holder with a time of 1:01:00.[7]
Ben is a three-time winner of the Falmouth Road Race, and has also won the Manchester Road Race.[1][8]
Personal bests
Information from World Athletics profile.[1]
| Surface | Event | Time | Venue | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor track | 3000 meters | 7:43.49 | Boston, MA, United States | February 4, 2023 | |
| 5000 meters | 13:11.12 | Boston, MA, United States | January 27, 2023 | ||
| Outdoor track | 1500 meters | 3:43.60 | Charlottesville, VA, United States | April 16, 2021 | |
| One mile | 3:57.75 | Bay Shore, NY, United States | September 5, 2018 | ||
| 3000 meters | 7:52.84 | Victoria, BC, Canada | June 16, 2022 | ||
| 5000 meters | 13:20.67 | Boston, MA, United States | May 29, 2021 | ||
| 10,000 meters | 27:49.09 | Irvine, CA, United States | May 14, 2021 | ||
| Road | Road Mile | 3:59.97 | Honolulu, HI, United States | December 8, 2018 | |
| 5 km | 13:38 | Moncton, Canada | September 11, 2022 | ||
| 10 km | 28:11 | Boston, MA, United States | June 26, 2022 | NR | |
| Half Marathon | 1:01:00 | Valencia, Spain | October 23, 2022 |
Personal life
Ben is the son of Ron and Michelle Flanagan. He has two sisters, Kristen and Jamie.[9][10]
Flanagan met his fiancé when his host family for the Falmouth road race got a flat tire causing him to stay the night with the president of the race, who's daughter happened to also attend the University of Michigan. After dating for three years the two got engaged.[11]
References
- "Benjamin FLANAGAN – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- "2018 Men's Track & Field Roster". Michigan Athletics. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- "Ben Flanagan statement from September 4, 2018". Twitter. September 4, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- "Ben Flanagan statement from January 12, 2022". Instagram. January 12, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- "Ben Flanagan statement from January 19, 2022". Instagram. January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- Hambleton, Brittany (January 16, 2022). "Ben Flanagan signs with On". Canadian Running. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- Milne, Keeley (October 23, 2022). "Ben Flanagan snags Canadian record at Valencia Half Marathon". Canadian Running. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- Dickinson, Marley (August 21, 2022). "Ben Flanagan wins his third Falmouth Road Race". Canadian Running. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- Chavez, Chris (June 7, 2018). "Ben Flanagan's Mom on Her Son's Incredible Kick to Win an NCAA Title". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- Mulhern, Sinead (December 22, 2015). "The Flanagan clan: A family of runners". Canadian Runner. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- Stol, David (January 16, 2023). "THE JOY OF RUNNING WITH CANADIAN RECORD-HOLDER BEN FLANAGAN". Glory. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
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