Fairfield’s Vivian Henninger competes in 100m, 200m, long jump events at Division V State Championships

COLUMBUS — Fairfield junior Vivian Henninger competed in three events in two days at the 2026 Division V OHSAA State Track and Field Championships.

Henninger’s three events at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium — on the campus of The Ohio State University — were the 100-meter dash and 200m dash on Thursday, followed on Friday with the long jump event. 

The Fairfield junior talked about what it was like to compete at state and to qualify for three events. 

“I'm just really glad that I got to make it to state. It's really rare that you get to make it in one, let alone three events, so I'm just really blessed that I was able to compete at regionals and make it to state,” Henninger said. “It was definitely really exciting. I definitely did not get the result I wanted in the 100, but we're definitely going to work out, hit the weights hard, and we're going to be back next year and podium next year.”

So what is Henninger’s favorite event?

“It's kind of weird, my 200 is actually my favorite event, but the 100 I came in ranked better,” she said.

Henninger in her first event on Thursday was the 100-meter dash prelims, where she raced in heat one. Henninger overall in the two heats combined had a final finish of 15th place overall, as her time was 12.68. 

In qualifying for state for the 100m race, Henninger placed third at the Southern Hills Athletic Conference meet with a time of 12.81. 

At districts in the 100m dash, the Fairfield junior placed second with her time being 12.97. Then, at regionals, Henninger was fifth place overall with a time of 12.42, as that was her state-qualifying time in the 100m dash. 

In her second state event of the day on Thursday (June 4), Henninger raced in the 200-meter dash, as she had a time of 26.51 for 15th place in the prelim round. 

Henninger in 200m races leading up to the state meet had a SHAC time of 26.34 for second place. Then, at districts, Henninger had another second-place finish with a time of 26.94. At regionals, Henninger qualified in the 200m dash with a time of 26.38 for a seventh-place finish, earning a wild card spot in the state event. 

On Friday (June 5), Henninger competed in her third and final event at the ’26 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships which was the long jump in Division V competition. In her three jump attempts, Henninger had distances of 15-02, 15-11.25 and 15.08.75.

Henninger’s second jump of 15-11.25 placed her 11th overall in the long jump event. 

“So, during my sophomore year, I was randomly thrown into long jump just for fun at a Lynchburg meet, and then I jumped 15, and my coaches were like, our school record was 15-04. My coaches were like, OK,” she said. “Then I got thrown in it at another meet, and then I only did it twice last year, and then this year I've done it about five times, that five meets. Next year, I definitely think I want to concentrate more on long jump, too.”

Henninger talked about competing against the best in the state and about the entire experience, plus starting to prepare for next season. 

“It's definitely like high stakes for sure, but it's just so it's just a good experience to come here, come to state, you get to race at Ohio State, rare experience, and it's just like lots of fun,” she said. “I was like I was smiling through all of my races, it was just so much fun.

“I told my dad I was like right, a couple rest days, and then we're back at it, and we're back and running.”

Fairfield girls track and field head coach Cohen Frost spoke about Henninger’s season. 

“I could not ask more out of Vivian. She has given every step her all and will continue to do so,” he said. “Making it to this level is not an easy task. No matter how hard something is or what was asked of her, she always puts her head down and does the work. I’m excited to see what else she can do.”

Henninger thanked those who have supported her. 

“I want to say thank you to my coaches, and thank you to my mom, because I wasn't going to run track my freshman year, and she said ‘no, you're running track,’ and so that's why I'm here,” Henninger said. “She made me run track. Shout out to my family and my teammates, they are so supportive, everyone. 

“Everyone's always here. I have my little sister, she's a freshman, and her friend, they stayed with me at my hotel. They're so funny, and just shoutout to my whole school, and to our superintendent, Kesia (McCoy), and our athletic director, Jimmy (Barnett).”