By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Jeff Douglas

Bennington High School welcomed several area teams to its home track and field invitational on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The Badgers put together a strong showing on their home track, with standout individual performances and solid relay efforts from both the boys and girls squads.

Boys Highlights

The Bennington boys delivered several podium finishes and personal-best performances across sprints, hurdles, distance, and field events.

In the sprints, Lane Molacek (10) had a breakout day. He placed second in the 200m finals with a personal-best time of 22.20 seconds and advanced strongly through the 100m prelims (11.39) and finals. Noah Nichols (12) also competed well in the 100m, finishing third in finals at 11.20 seconds after tying for second in prelims at 11.31. Beckett Cemer (9) added a fifth-place finish in the 200m finals (22.35 PB). Additional sprinters such as Opeoluw Akomolafe (9), Kasen Dutoit (10), William Gutz (11), Zeb Hamilton (10), and Lane Molacek (10) represented Bennington in the 100m and 200m prelims, contributing depth in the sprints.

The hurdles belonged to Knox Naughton (10), who dominated with a personal-best 40.04 seconds to win the 300m hurdles and took second in the 110m hurdles (14.47 PB). Logan Howard (12) placed fifth in the 110m hurdles finals (15.79 PB) and fourth in the 300m (43.33). Awel Awel (11) also advanced to the 110m hurdles finals. In the 300m hurdles, Zeb Hamilton (10) and Jamison Theis (11) competed as well.

On the track, the 4x100m relay team of Noah Nichols, Knox Naughton, Parker Douglas (11), and Lane Molacek stormed to first place with a time of 43.33 seconds. In the 4x400m, Brooks Codr (12), Matthew Andersen (12), Noah Nichols, and Parker Douglas combined for third place (3:30.96). The 4x800m squad featuring Sam Riffner (11), Matthew Andersen, and Sam Knott (12) earned second (8:45.32).

In distance events, Thomas Morgan (11) turned in a strong fifth-place finish in the 1600m (4:52.39), while Sam Riffner and Sam Knott placed ninth and tenth in the 800m. Keaton Striffler (11), Parker Houston (9), Braylon Schmoldt (11), and Tyler Dent (11) added efforts in the 800m. In the 1600m and 3200m, Alex O’Connell (11), Cael O’Brien (11), Brayden Kramer (9), Ethan Slavik (10), Gideon Rodgers (11), Gabe Walsh (11), and Wyatt Whiteley (11) competed for Bennington.

The field events saw big contributions from throwers. Keagan McElwain (12) dominated the shot put with a personal-best 52′ 9.5″ for first place and won the discus at 144′ 9″. Emery Goolsby (11), William Gutz (11), Cade Almquist (10), Easton Apley (10), Tyler Brockmeier (10), Trent Dierks (10), and Remington Heinemann (10) all competed in shot put and/or discus, with several recording personal bests.

In jumps, Taiten Almond (10) placed fifth in triple jump (39′ 11.5″), Parker Douglas took sixth (39′ 9″), and Jay Stahlecker (11) added a ninth. Knox Naughton contributed in long jump, while Beckett Cemer (9) also jumped well. Various athletes competed in pole vault and high jump, including Kwin Dutoit (9), Brody Bucholz (9), Rowan Brown (11), Titus McMahan (10), Eli Sukraw (9), Drake Kuhl (10), and Owen Vernon (11), adding valuable depth and experience in the vertical jumps.

Girls Highlights

The Bennington girls team shined brightly, particularly in the sprints, relays, and jumps, collecting multiple top-three finishes and personal records.

Addison Kuntz (11) was one of the day’s top performers, finishing second in the 100m finals (12.25) and second in the 200m (25.03). Harper Bohaboj (11) placed fifth in the 100m (12.71) and contributed to strong relay legs. Paige Gargano (9) took sixth in the 100m with a PB of 12.72 and delivered an outstanding long jump win at 18′ 0.5″ (PB). Addison Nguyen (10) placed fifth in the 200m (25.82 PB) and added a third in long jump (16′ 6″ PB). Other sprinters like Camry Olson (9), Caroline Gutz (9), and Cora Turner (9) competed in the 100m and 200m prelims.

The 4x100m relay team — Addison Nguyen, Addison Kuntz, Harper Bohaboj, and Georgia Behlen (11) — won gold in 48.21 seconds. The 4x400m squad of Georgia Behlen, Kennedy Portwood (10), Ella Marcinek (10), and Macie Reiner (10) also took first (4:00.74). In the 4x800m, Macie Reiner, Alea Chipperfield (12), Taylor Redmond (10), and Ella Marcinek combined for a victory in 9:54.41.

Distance runners produced quality efforts: Ella Marcinek placed third in the 800m (2:23.39), Alea Chipperfield sixth (2:30.19 PB), and Selah Carson (11) fourth in the 1600m (5:34.91). Madeleine Scott (11) won the 3200m in 12:29.20, while Mazlyn Cornett (11), Lauryn Bates (11), Brooklyn Houston (10), Madi Shippen-Bellamy (10), Jessie Maupin (10), and Cecilia Bird (9) competed well in the 1600m, 3200m, and 800m.

In the hurdles, Adrienne Trebil (10) placed fourth in the 100mH (15.52) and fourth in the 300mH (48.60 PB). Kennedy Portwood took third in the 300mH (47.23) and contributed in the 100mH. Naomi Wempen (9) also advanced in hurdles, along with Nancy Adzadou (10), Addy Rininger (9), and Olivia Uldal (9).

Field events featured strong showings in jumps. Quinn Sanmann (11) won the triple jump with a personal-best 35′ 10.5″. Paige Gargano placed second (35′ 6″), and Kiana Pierre (10) took third. In high jump, Reese Almquist (12), Avery Theis (9), Addy Olson (11), and Quinn Sanmann (11) cleared competitive heights. Throwers like Cora Lamberty (9), Allie John (10), Dorothy Vanecek (10), Josie Sudbeck (9), Kennedy Bobolz (9), and Madysen Saathoff (10) competed in shot put and discus, with several personal bests. Brinley Kaczmarek (11) placed second in pole vault (9′ 0″), supported by Isabel Haywood (9), Andrea Balaban (9), Claire Loghry (10), Addisyn Shippen-Bellamy (10), and Alice Hofer (10) in the event.

Unified and Overall Notes

Bennington athletes also participated in unified divisions, with several personal-best or season-best marks in sprints, shot put, and long jump, adding depth to the meet. In the boys unified 100m, Brayden Kreikemeier (12) placed fourth (12.73 PB), Oscar Anderson placed fifth (13.47 PB), Easton Spence (11) ran 18.19 (SB), JJ Sund placed 15th, and Riley Main (11) competed as well. In unified shot put, Tanner Rayfield (11) took second (33′ 9″ PB), Charlie Bryson placed fourth (29′ 11″ PB), Kaden Tobey (12) fifth (28′ 3″ SB), CJ Ahrendsen placed 10th (18′ 4″ PB), and Christian Williams 11th (17′ 4″ PB). Unified long jump saw Ty Thomsen place second (16′ 10.5″ SB), Cohen Detjens third (14′ 6″ PB), Lane Welchert fifth (13′ 2.25″ PB), and Joey Foral 11th (8′ 6″ PB).

On the girls unified side, Alayna Stocker won the 100m (14.04 PB), Emma Christiansen took second (14.19 PB), Abby Rychly placed seventh (16.80), Lily Cunard 11th (19.60 SB), and Marlea Strayer 14th. In unified shot put, Maren Hogan placed fourth (23′ 4″ PB), Addyson Yates fifth (21′ 8.5″ SB), and Lily Cunard ninth (14′ 5″ PB). Unified long jump featured Abby Rychly in second (9′ 11.5″ PB), Meredith Finigan seventh (7′ 10″ SB), and Marlea Strayer 10th (4′ 2.5″ PB). The mixed unified 4×100 relay teams from Bennington also competed, including squads with Ty Thomsen, Lane Welchert, Brayden Kreikemeier, and others.

The April 21 home invitational showcased Bennington’s depth across events, with multiple relay victories, individual podium finishes, and numerous personal records. The Badgers look poised for a competitive season as they continue building momentum.

Congratulations to all Bennington student-athletes who competed and achieved new personal bests on their home track!