ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict athletic department celebrated the accomplishments of the 2025-26 athletic year in May with its annual student-athlete celebration. Twelve Bennies were announced as finalists for the annual CSB Athlete of the Year award, presented to the top athlete of the season in each sport.

Pole vaulter Jaylyn Ahlberg '26 (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) was named the finalist for the indoor season while hurdler Lauren Berg '26 (Bemidji, Minn.) was the outdoor finalist. 

Ahlberg won the pole vault MIAC title in the indoor season with a mark of 3.53 meters. She had three pole vault wins in six indoor meets and five top five finishes in the pole vault in the indoor season.

She also finished third at the conference outdoor meet and added eight top five finishes during the outdoor season. She graduated a five-time MIAC champion and a six-time All-MIAC performer in the pole vault. Ahlberg qualified for the 2024 NCAA outdoor championships where she finished 18th. She finished her career with 17 event wins in the pole vault. 

Berg ended her career as a second team All-American in the 400-meter hurdles with a 15th-place finish in the event at the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Berg broke her own school-record and earned All-Region honors in the 400-hurdles with a time of 1:01.49 at the MIAC outdoor meet where she finished second.

She earned All-MIAC honorable mention honors in CSB's outdoor 4x400-meter relay (fourth), indoor 600 meters (fourth), indoor 800 meters (fifth) and indoor 4x400-meter relay (fifth). Berg finished her career with 16 All-MIAC and honorable mention accolades. She won 27 titles, finished second 16 times and had 76 top four finishes individually or as a member of a relay. In the 400-meter hurdles, she had 22 top four finishes, winning the event seven times with a dozen top two finishes.

The CSB track & field team finished fifth out of 12 teams at both the 2026 MIAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Berg became CSB's first NCAA qualifier since Ahlberg and Fiona Smith in 2024. She earned All-America second team honors in the 400-meter hurdles.