Bennington Track Teams Shine at Blair Meet, Building Momentum Toward Postseason, Plus Senior Recognition

3–5 minutes

By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Jeff Douglas

A female athlete jumping over a hurdle during a track race, with two other competitors running closely behind her on a track field.

The Bennington track and field teams delivered strong performances at the recent meet in Blair on Tuesday, April 28, with both the boys and girls squads showcasing depth and competitiveness against top area competition. Coming on the heels of their senior night celebration the previous week at home, the Badgers continued to trend upward as the postseason approaches.

The girls’ team, in particular, stood out with multiple event wins and podium finishes. They captured first place in the 4×100 relay (49.04 seconds) with Addison Nguyen, Addison Kuntz, Kiana Pierre, and Harper Bohaboj. The 4×400 relay team also dominated, winning in 4:00.01 with Nguyen, Lauren Schmidt, Taylor Redmond, and Macie Reiner. 

Individually, Macie Reiner had an outstanding day, winning the 400 meters in a season-best 57.66 seconds and the 800 meters in a personal-best 2:20.28. Addison Kuntz took second in the 100 meters (12.42 seconds), while Addison Nguyen placed third (12.52). Paige Gargano excelled in the jumps, finishing second in long jump (18-00.75 PB) and first in triple jump (35-06.50). Adrienne Trebil and others contributed key points in the hurdles.

On the boys’ side, Bennington placed third overall despite not being at full strength. They posted several strong marks, including a second-place finish in the 4×100 relay (43.34 seconds) featuring Noah Nichols, Knox Naughton, Parker Douglas, and Lane Molacek. The 4×400 squad took third in 3:28.38 with Brooks Codr, Noah Nichols, Lane Molacek, and Parker Douglas.

Lane Molacek and Noah Nichols went 2-3 in the 100-meter finals (10.96 and 11.17 seconds). Parker Douglas placed fourth in the 400 meters (51.67), Logan Howard took third in the 110-meter hurdles (15.89) and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (42.97 PB). In the field events, Keagan McElwain threw for fourth in shot put (50-06.75) and sixth in discus (154-00), while Jaiden Heywood cleared 12-02 for second in pole vault.

Coach Jocelyn Suing reflected on the team’s trajectory after the Blair meet and recent home competition. “Coming off these last two meets, both of our teams are in a really strong position,” she said. “We competed against many of the state’s best athletes. We always want to defend our home turf, and we were able to do that at the Bennington Invite. At Blair, the girls continued their winning streak. We placed girls in some new events and they responded well. The boys placed third without being fully healthy so we were happy with that result.”

Suing emphasized the program’s growing strength. “Overall, what stands out most is our depth and consistency—we’re seeing strong performances across multiple event groups, which is a great sign this time of year,” she noted. The coach highlighted the importance of the recent home victory: “It’s always important to take care of business at home. There’s a lot of pride that comes with competing in front of your school and community, and our athletes really feed off that energy. It was a great confidence boost for both teams as we head into the final stretch of the season.”

The Badgers have shown steady improvement. “The biggest positive was the continued improvement across the board,” Suing said. “Over the past three meets (one freshmen, one JV, one varsity), we’ve had 61 personal records and 11 new top-10 performances, which shows our athletes are trending in the right direction. It’s not just about places right now—it’s about progress, and we’re seeing that in a big way.”

As the season deepens, Bennington appears well-positioned. “We feel like we’re progressing well and starting to peak at the right time,” Suing explained. “Right now, we’re working to finalize our district lineup by moving athletes into different events and seeing how we stack up against Class B competition. The boys are ahead of where we were at this point last year, and we’re continuing to focus on being healthy, fresh, and ready for conference and districts. The girls are going to make a run at repeating for the state title. It’s an exciting time.”

The coach praised the team’s culture and leadership. “I’ve really liked our team’s mindset lately. We’ve had a busy stretch, and our athletes have done a great job staying positive and pushing through some fatigue and adversity. Our leaders and seniors have set the tone by staying steady, encouraging their teammates, and helping everyone stay focused—even when a race or mark doesn’t go as planned,” she said. “I’m really proud of how this group has handled the behind-the-scenes work… There’s a strong team-first mentality, and that’s something that doesn’t always show up on the results sheet but makes a big difference in our success.”

Bennington honored its seniors at the recent home meet, recognizing athletes including Matthew Andersen, Brooks Codr, Irving Estrada, Logan Howard, Sam Knott, Jensen Manz, Keagan McElwain, Noah Nichols, Caleb Rawson, Jackson Rezac, Reese Almquist, Alea Chipperfield, Natasha Gross, Brooklyn Hanish, and Kate Sebree for their contributions to the program. 

With strong recent showings and experienced leadership, the Badgers are poised for a successful finish to the season.

A group of male sprinters in athletic uniforms starting a race on a purple track, with some runners in motion and a spectator blurred in the foreground.
A group of female athletes competing in a sprint race on a track field, with one runner in a blue uniform leading the way.
A group of female athletes sprinting down a track during a competitive race on an outdoor field.
Four male track athletes running in a race on a field, wearing athletic uniforms in blue and black.
A group of female track athletes competing in a hurdle race, with one athlete leaping over a hurdle in the foreground while others are running behind her.
Two male track athletes competing in a hurdles race, one wearing a blue jersey with 'Bennington' and the other in a red jersey with 'Elkhorn'.
A group of female runners competing on a track, with one athlete in a blue uniform leading the race. The scene conveys a dynamic athletic competition with a grassy area in the background.
A group of high school track runners competing on an outdoor track, with a focus on two athletes in the foreground as they sprint during a race.
A group of female track athletes sprinting on a purple and black running track during a race. Trees and a school bus are visible in the background.
A female athlete running on a track while holding a relay baton, with spectators in the background.
Two male track athletes sprinting in a relay race on a track, one holding a baton while the other is close behind.
Athletes participating in a relay race, passing the baton on a track field during a competitive event.

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