Fresh off another fantastic season for the West Texas A&M track and field team, Kailee Benton added another accolade to the trophy case by winning the 18th Dick Bynum Award presented by the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club on Tuesday.
The award goes annually to the most outstanding Amarillo-area female college athlete.
“I’m very honored to win this award,” Benton said. “It’s amazing to be recognized by the women before that have won this award and the five others that were finalist this year. This means so much because you never realize how many people are paying attention to what you’ve accomplished.”
From an illustrious multi-sport career at Randall High School, Benton hasn’t missed a beat since competing for the West Texas A&M track and field team over the past three years. Benton has been a USTFCCCA All-Region selection, and was third-team All-Lone Star Conference in 2024. As a versatile athlete, Benton has seen major success for the prestigious Lady Buffs. From her freshman season to her junior year this past spring, Benton is a huge reason of what makes the Lady Buffs one of the most prominent programs in all of Division II.
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This past year, placed third in the long jump at the LSC Indoor championships and fourth in the pentathlon setting a personal-best 3,313 points. During the outdoor schedule, Benton took third in the heptathlon at the LSC championships and was eighth in the long jump.
“I love competing at West Texas A&M,” Benton said. “It’s been nice to stay home and see my parents and watch my little brother (Kaison) grow up and turn into a tremendous athlete. I love they can come and watch me anytime they can. It’s been awesome to be a part of so many indoor and outdoor track titles. I am happy to give back to my community and be a part of a great tradition like WTAMU track. You just have to believe in yourself.”
Benton’s high school track coach, Jenna Jesko, was in attendance to see her get the Dick Bynum Award. Jesko isn’t surprised in any way of what Benton has been able to accomplish at the college level.
“Kailee is one of my favorite athletes,” Jesko said. “She is an awesome person, and she has fought through so much. It’s incredible to see her get an award like this. She has put in the work, and I love seeing it pay off.”
Benton is the is the ninth Lady Buff to receive the honor, and the first female track and field athlete to win the Dick Bynum from WTAMU.
For winning this honor, Randall High School will receive a check for $1,000 that will go toward the women’s athletic department.
The other finalists for 2025 Dick Bynum award were Canyon graduate and now WTAMU basketball player Kenadee Winfrey; Amarillo High graduate and Washinton University in St. Louis tennis player, Eleanor Archer; Amarillo High graduate and Mary Hardin-Baylor golfer Karlee Holcomb; Amarillo High graduate and Oklahoma Christian swimmer Madi Monroe; and West Texas A&M and Hereford volleyball standout Taytum Stow.
Dick Bynum Memorial Award Winners
2007: Leah Rush, basketball, Amarillo High and Oklahoma
2008: Emily Brister, basketball, Amarillo High and West Texas A&M
2009: Nina Munch-Soegaard, tennis, home schooled, Texas Christian University
2010: Katie Rickwartz, volleyball, Canyon and West Texas A&M
2011: Brianne Barker, volleyball, Amarillo High and Oklahoma
2012: Andrea Carpenter, soccer, Randall and Abilene Christian
2013: Katie Grimes, track, Canyon and Texas Tech
2014: Casey Land, basketball, Canyon and West Texas A&M
2015: Alex Simms, volleyball, San Jacinto Christian and Texas State
2016: Nicole Hampton, basketball, Canyon and Lubbock Christian University
2017: Sasha Watson, basketball, Palo Duro and West Texas A&M
2018: Kilee Halbert, softball, Dalhart and West Texas A&M
2019: Jordan Duke, soccer, Amarillo High and Texas Tech
2020: Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021: Lexy Hightower, Amarillo High and West Texas A&M
2022: Allie Schulte-Hicks, Nazareth and Lubbock Christian University
2023: Kyra Lair, Canyon and West Texas A&M
2024: Bryli Contreras, Canyon and West Texas A&M
2025: Kailee Benton, Randall and West Texas A&M