Texas Tech University Athletics
Former Red Raider Harrison Benjamin Passes Away
July 28, 2015 | Track and Field
Harrison Benjamin won the 2009 Big 12 shot put title in Lubbock.
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Former Texas Tech track & field athlete and Big 12 Champion Harrison Benjamin passed away on Monday night. He was 29.
Benjamin, known by his loved ones as "Tank," was one of the best throwers to ever come through the Texas Tech program.
"We all lost a great champion yesterday," Texas Tech head coach Wes Kittley said. "It's so sad for such a vibrant young man to be taken from us so soon. As Tank [Benjamin]'s head coach, I am lost for words and can only say I have never been more proud of a Red Raider, due to the amount of adversity he went through with injuries and surgeries, only to become one of our greatest Big 12 champions. He will forever be cherished as a member of our Red Raider family. My prayers and thoughts are with his wonderful family."
Benjamin battled back from injuries to win the Big 12 shot put title in 2009, with a personal-best throw of 18.94m/62-1.75 at the Fuller Track Complex. That mark ranked sixth in the NCAA at the time, and was also a school record.
He one-upped that mark later in the season by winning the NCAA Midwest Regional title, launching the shot 19.60m/64-3.75.
Overall, Benjamin earned All-Big 12 honors in the shot put six different times, and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2008 and 2009.
Funeral services for Benjamin are pending at this time.
