Grace Benefield
Grace Benefield

Class:
Junior

Hometown:
San Diego, Calif.

High School:
La Jolla HS '09

Height:
5-10

Position:
Distance Free

Major:
Communications


04/05/2012

MPSF Honors 13 Aggies With All-Academic Selection

UC Davis had 13 student-athletes recognized by the league office

02/18/2012

Aggies Place Third At MPSF Championship Meet

UC Davis finished third as a team after another individual title for Kayleigh Foley on Saturday

02/16/2012

Foley Captures 50 Free Title On Day Two At MPSF Meet

UC Davis moved into third place as a team after two days at the MPSF Championships

12/01/2011

Aggies Complete Day One At Mizzou Invite

UC Davis had several swimmers register season best times during day one competition

10/29/2011

Aggies Take First Loss At San Jose State

UC Davis couldn't get past the Spartans despite three freestyle event wins for Kayleigh Foley

2010-11: Placed 4th in 1,650 (17:06.04), 6th in 500 free (4:58.30) at MPSF Championships, both season-best marks... Ranks 4th in school history with that 1,650 time... Also placed 16th in 400 IM at conference, hitting 4:33.24 in prelim, good for No. 9 in school history... Posted team season-best 10:22.34 in 1,000 at Texas Invite... MPSF All-Academic honoree.

2009-10: Finished 5th overall in the 1,000 freestyle (team season-best 10:15.66) and 6th in the 1,650 freestyle (season-best 17:08.91) at Big West Championships... Earned second swim in 500 freestyle, placing 6th with season-best 5:00.56, good for 5th in UC Davis record book.

LA JOLLA HS '09: Advanced to San Diego Section finals in 200 free (3rd) and 500 free (3rd) as a senior... Finished 3rd in 500 free at section meet as a junior... Helped team CIF-SDS title in 2007, the first in school history... Earned All-America Consideration as part of record-setting 400 free relay at 2009 section championships... Served as editor-in-chief of school yearbook in 2008-09... Earned San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic first-team nods in 2008 and 2009... Also competed for North Coast Aquatics, qualifying for Short Course Junior Nationals in 1,500 free and 800 free in 2008... National qualifier in 1,500 free in 2009, placing 3rd in her age group at Junior Olympics.

PERSONAL: Born in Los Angeles, Calif.... Communication major... Parents are William & Kathleen Benefield... Sister Gloria swims at Cal Poly... Cousin Vince Welnick is the keyboardist for the band Grateful Dead... Competed for the North Coast Aquatics club team in San Diego.