Springfield College

Bevans was a pioneer in the world of distance running as she became the first Black American woman to win a marathon when she crossed the finish line of the Maryland Marathon first in 1977.  She was the first Black American woman to finish a marathon in under three hours, achieving the feat at the 1975 Boston Marathon when produced a time of 2:55:52. At the 1977 Boston Marathon, Bevans became the first Black American woman to medal as she earned runner-up honors in 2:51:12. Having run a personal-best marathon time of 2:49:56, Bevans was ranked as the 10th fastest female marathoner in the world by Track & Field News in 1977. 

She was previously inducted into the National Black Marathoners Association's Distance Runner Hall of Fame in 2013 as part of the first class of inductees. Additionally, Bevans was named as one of the 2014 Heroes of Running by Runner's World.  She has received accolades from her time coaching mid-distance and long-distance running at Baltimore's Perry Hall High School, where she was named All-Metro Coach of the Year twice.