By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Jeff Douglas
For the second straight year, the Bennington girls track & field team is bringing home the Class B state championship trophy. The Lady Badgers capped an outstanding season by winning the 2026 state title, showcasing remarkable depth, record-breaking performances, and a resilient team culture.
Head coach Jocelyn Suing expressed what the repeat championship means to the program. “Defending our Class B state title and bringing another championship back to Bennington means everything to this team and coaching staff because it was the goal from the very beginning of the season,” she said. “With so many returning athletes, we knew that if we stayed healthy, worked hard, and continued to push each other every day, we could put ourselves in position to do it again.”
The meet was electric from the start. Bennington opened with three school records in the first three events and ultimately set six new school records at the state meet in the pole vault, long jump, 4×800 relay, 300 hurdles, 800 meters, and 4×100 relay. The 4×100 relay team also shattered the Class B state record and Class B state meet record.
“What stood out most was the way the team came out right away and set the tone from the very beginning,” Suing said. “It created so much excitement and confidence for the rest of the team… It was just one of those meets where the energy kept building, and the athletes continued to rise to the moment over and over again.”
Addison Kuntz led the charge in the sprints, finishing second in the 100 meters (12.08 seconds) and winning the 200 meters (25.03 seconds). In the 400 meters, Bennington showed its depth with three scorers: Macie Reiner placed second (56.85), Addison Nguyen took fourth (57.60), and Lauren Schmidt finished eighth (58.26). Ella Marcinek added a sixth-place finish in the 800 meters (2:17.60).
In the hurdles, Kennedy Portwood earned a fourth-place medal in the 300m hurdles (44.72), while Adrienne Trebil made history by becoming the first Bennington athlete to qualify for the 100m hurdles finals, finishing eighth (15.27).
Field events delivered more highlights. Paige Gargano soared to first place in the long jump (18-06.50), setting a new school record and personal best. Kiana Pierre placed fourth in the triple jump (37-06.50), with Gargano eighth and Quinn Sanmann 18th. Brinley Kaczmarek cleared 10-06 in the pole vault for a ninth-place tie and a personal best.
The relays were a major strength. The 4×100 team of Addison Nguyen, Addison Kuntz, Harper Bohaboj, and Georgia Behlen won gold in 47.60 seconds, setting multiple records. The 4×400 squad of Kennedy Portwood, Lauren Schmidt, Macie Reiner, and Addison Nguyen also took first with a time of 3:53.82. The 4×800 team finished fifth in 9:36.33, another school record.
Suing highlighted the team’s remarkable depth throughout the meet: “13 of 18 girls took home medals.” She specifically praised athletes like Adrienne Trebil, Lauren Schmidt, Addison Nguyen (who earned four medals), and Kennedy Portwood for their contributions across multiple events.
While the girls’ team captured the state championship, the Bennington boys also delivered strong performances, led by standout hurdler Knox Naughton. Naughton earned a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.64 seconds, finishing second overall. He also placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles in a personal best 39.67 seconds. His consistent performances in both hurdle events highlighted his talent and competitiveness on the big stage.
Additionally, the boys 4×100 relay team of William Gutz, Knox Naughton, Parker Douglas, and Lane Molacek finished eighth in the finals with a time of 42.94 seconds. Lane Molacek also competed individually in the sprints, advancing to the 100-meter and 200-meter prelims. Though the boys did not contend for a team title, these performances demonstrated the growing depth and potential within the Bennington boys track & field program.
As defending champions, Bennington faced high expectations all season. Suing was impressed with how the athletes responded: “I’m incredibly proud of how the girls handled it all season long… Different girls rose to the occasion in different moments, and that’s what made this team so special.”
The coach credited the team’s success to the support system the athletes built, saying, “The athletes really became each other’s biggest supporters… Seeing all the smiles, excitement, and genuine happiness for one another was really special.”
Looking ahead, the senior class leaves a strong foundation. Though small in number, they set high standards through work ethic and leadership that will benefit future teams.
Suing closed by thanking the community: “We are incredibly thankful for the support our team received from the Bennington community, families, school staff, and fans… We hope the community is just as proud of these girls as we are because they represented our school with tremendous character, effort, and teamwork all season long.”
With a repeat state title secured and a program clearly on the rise, Bennington girls track & field has set a new standard for excellence.
