Benitez was a distance runner where she was a two-time All-American. She was a team captain in cross country and co-captain in both indoors and outdoors her senior year, helping Army to a 31-4-1 over her first three seasons. She played a key role in Army's sweep of the inaugural series with Navy in cross country and both indoors and outdoors (1986-87). She placed first in the 3000-meter indoors to provide the winning point and was second in that event in the outdoors vs. Navy. In her senior year, helped lead Army to a 2-0 outdoor record, including a win over Navy and 7th place at the NCAA Division II Championships.
