'You need a swashbuckler at the top': Kris Srikkanth urges RCB to open with Devdutt Padikkal
Kris Srikkanth believes RCB needs Devdutt Padikkal at the top order.
The Benjamin School's girls track and field team won the Class 1A state championship, marking their fifth consecutive title. They secured victory with a total of 62 points, finishing ahead of Northside Christian by nine points.
Mentioned in this story
The Benjamin School's place at the top of Florida high school track and field will continue for a fifth consecutive year.
Benjamin's girls track and field team won the Class 1A state championship on Wednesday, May 6 at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. The Bucs finished with 62 total points, nine clear of runner-up Northside Christian.
Last year, Benjamin won its first FHSAA girls track and field state championship, picking up where the school's boys team left off after three consecutive state titles from 2022-24.
There was a little drama for the Bucs in claiming this latest title.
Benjamin entered the meet's finale event, the 4x400-meter relay, with a two-point lead over Northside Christian. The Bucs' veteran lineup took second place while Northside finished eighth, securing the victory.
Senior sprinter Akari Marshall shined for the Bucs with a win in the 200-meter and runner-up finishes in the 100-meter and the 4x400-meter relay. Fellow senior Sofia Balistreri, The Post's reigning Girls Track Runner of the Year, also scored well with a runner-up finish in the 800-meter and a leg on the aforementioned relay. Benjamin junior Kamori Reddick also grabbed a bundle of points in the field, taking runner-up in triple jump and sixth in long jump.
Benjamin girls track and field has won back-to-back state championships, totaling five consecutive titles.
The final score was 62 points for Benjamin, nine points ahead of runner-up Northside Christian.
The Class 1A state championship took place at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville.
Benjamin needed to perform well in the 4x400-meter relay to secure their state championship victory.
Kris Srikkanth believes RCB needs Devdutt Padikkal at the top order.


Jeglertz reveals key to ending Manchester City's runners-up curse.
See every story in Sports β including breaking news and analysis.
Pahokee junior Jamaria Richardson shined among other locals competing on the opening day of the FHSAA state meet. The junior won the 400-meter, took third in long jump and sixth in the 200-meter.
High hopes, achieved: Benjamin School track eyes another state title
Benjamin's Akari Marshall races to victory in the girls 200-meter dash during the FHSAA Class 1A high school track and field championships in Jacksonville, Florida on May 6, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Benjamin's boys team also made a strong run at a state championship, finishing Class 1A state runner-up. The Bucs were a dozen points behind champion Holy Trinity, which won with 68 points overall.
Senior Julian Luiz closed out his decorated prep career in style with an individual win in the 400-meter hurdles. He also ran the anchor leg in a first place finish for the Bucs in the 4x400-meter relay.
Benjamin sophomore Markel Etienne and Pahokee junior Da'Corrian Jones were among the day's other individual standouts with each finishing runner-up in the 200-meter and 400-meter, respectively.
100-meter
200-meter
400-meter
800-meter
100-meter hurdles
400-meter hurdles
4x100-meter relay
4x400-meter relay
4x800-meter relay
Long jump
Triple jump
Shot put
Javelin
100-meter
200-meter
400-meter
110-meter hurdles
400-meter hurdles
4x100-meter relay
4x400-meter relay
Long jump
High jump
Triple jump
Shot put
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Benjamin girls track and field wins second straight state championship