By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – And they’re off! Like thoroubreds breaking from the gate, Bedford North Lawrence’s stable of talented racers are taking off on a charge toward potential glory at the finish line.
With one of the top runners in the state at the front, with a pack of returning veterans, with newcomers poised to push the clock and their teammates, the Stars have all the tools to build a title-contending season. They have experience and confidence. The starting bell can’t ring fast enough.
Fast times and high finishes are the goal. BNL finished fourth in last year’s sectional, so now the target is the next level. Advancing to the IHSAA state meet is the challenge.
“Our team is looking really good,” BNL coach Amy Greenan said. “They had a great track season and a summer of consistent training. I fully expect this team to be right up there in the Hoosier Hills Conference and do well in the tournament.”
There are multiple reasons for the optimism. Start at the front. Junior star Paige Voigtschild advanced to the state finals as an individual last year – the first BNL runner since Autumn Spence in 2020 to achieve that. Her sister Claire is not far off her pace.
“Paige and Claire are both shooting for state, and if they both make it out, who’s to say they won’t have their teammates with them?” Greenan said. “That’s always the goal. They have been putting in the miles and are our frontrunners right now.”
“I’m trying to make it there again,” Voigtschild said. “I think I will be faster this year.”
The sport requires five competitors for a team score, and that’s where BNL’s veterans count the most. The senior trio of Madison Chandler, Gracie Simmerman and Jabrie Sullivan have been through the battles, while sophomore Abby Kleihege showed late promise last year. They should step into the void created by the departures of Francesca Orozco (graduated) and Elise Williams (moved to Colorado). Others on the radar will be sophomore Izzy Taylor and freshmen Addison Rope and Ashlyn York.
”We are going to miss Fran and Elise, but we have some girls who are excited to hop into those positions,” Greenan said. “We are lucky to have some awesome senior leadership. I expect that group to be in the top seven for a while, but we’ve got two pretty tough freshmen who are working hard to be right in the mix.”
“We’re all confident,” Simmerman said. “We’re all close as a team. If we put our minds to it, we will do well. I’m excited.”
BNL last won a sectional title in 2010. That’s also the last time the Stars advanced to the state finals as a complete unit.
“I expect this year to go smoothly,” Sullivan said. “I hope we can move forward. We’re stronger than we have been, we have some really good runners. We’ve grown together as a team. I’m really confident.”
BNL will open the season in the Valley Kickoff meet in Terre Haute on Saturday.
