Ben is a two-year veteran who will run among the team leaders in 2009...in his first season he showed the determination needed to compete on the Golden Eagle squad...he continued that throughout his sophomore season...a selection of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in recognition of his academic work.

AT TECH - (In 2009): Ben missed the first meet of the season, then became a regular inTech's lineup for the nxt six events...moved steadily up the ladder on the team, finishingin fifth in the Vanderbilt meet and improving to fourth at the TTU Invitational, third at Furman and second on the squad at Evansville...season-best of 27:09.85 was at Evansville....has run in 17 of Tech's 18 meets in his three years on the roster.

(In 2008): Ben was a strong competitor in all six meets he ran during the cross country season...his best time was at Evansville where he was clocked in at 26:32.63, which stands as his career record, and also is in the Tech record books as the 14th best time in school history...he came in first on the squad at Sewanee with a time of 27:41.25...also finished third at Evansville and at the Ohio Valley Championships.

(In 2007): Ben competed in all six races in his freshman year. His strongest showing was a fourth-place finish in the TTU Invitational. He also performed strongly in the Old Timers Classic and the OVC Championship races, where he came in fifth among his Golden Eagle teammates in both races. Ben competed in the NCAA Division I South Region Cross Country Championships, where he finished sixth among the Tech squad. His best time in his freshman year was clocked in the Old Timers Classic at 28:08.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ben was a four-year letter winner in both cross country and track & field at Oak Ridge High School...voted the team captain, he won the squad's Most Improved Runner award...helped Oak Ridge post four regional championship and two TSSAA state championships.

PERSONAL: The son of Mike Shassere and Kathy Evans...born February 14, 1989 in Arlington, Texas...full name is Benjamin Allen Shassere...majoring in chemical engineering.