BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford University officially dedicated its varsity track to the late Cameron Bean in ceremonies held at the facility Friday evening. The facility will now be known as The Cameron Bean Track at Shauna Yelton Field
 
"The support from Cameron's friends, family and teammates has been overwhelming," Samford head track and field coach Rod Tiffin said. "When we started the process of securing naming rights for the track, I assumed it would take several years. The generosity that allowed it to be completed in less than a year is astounding."
 
Bean, who was a standout on the Samford cross-country and track and field teams from the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2011, passed away on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, from injuries he received when he was hit by a car while out for a run on Saturday, September 19, 2015. Since 2016, The Cam Run: Cameron Bean Memorial 5K & Magnum Mile, which aims to both remember and capture the energy and essence of Bean, has been held in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
 
"His life being cut short was tragic and unnecessary but, in his passing, I know it makes us all cherish the moments that we had with him," Tiffin said. "Even though Cameron never competed on this track it was his hard work and the work of his teammates that made this facility a reality. Without that group of athletes paving the way, this generation would not have the beautiful facility that you see at Samford today."
 
During his time at Samford, Bean won a Southern Conference championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs. He was named the 2010 Southern Conference Most Outstanding Indoor Track Performer. He was also named the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Track and Field Freshman of the Year, and the 2005 OVC Men's Cross-Country Freshman of the Year. He left school as the program record holder in the 3K, 5K and steeplechase.
 
After leaving Samford, Bean competed as a professional runner. He had the ninth-fastest steeplechase time in the country, and he ran 8:37, barely missing a spot in the 2012 Olympic Trials field. Bean was inducted into the Samford Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
 
The Samford men's and women's track and field teams will host the Southern Conference Outdoor Championships Saturday and Sunday at the newly named facility.
 
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