By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Runners are no stranger to pain. Legs ache from the stress, lungs burn from lack of oxygen, stinging sweat drips into the eyes. The special ones love it, embrace it, race through it for glory that makes the hurt worth it.
Paige Voigtschild is chasing greatness, seeking an earned invitation into elite company among Bedford North Lawrence competitors who have conquered the five kilometers in front of them. She has advanced to the IHSAA state finals in back-to-back years, looking to become the first to threepeat her way to the final stage of the state tournament series since her current coach (Amy Greenan) accomplished that remarkable feat before graduating in 1991.
Voigtschild will set the pace from the front as the Stars stride into the 2026 season. After Paige and her twin sister Claire, there are no other seniors or juniors (save for newcomer Madi Ashley, who will join the roster once she completes boot camp for the National Guard) to set the tone for a young squad.
There’s little left, save for huge higher goals, for Voigtschild to prove. She was fifth in the sectional, 15th in the regional and 91st in the state a year ago, and she set the school record for the home course (19:28.7). Those targets are changing. Earning All-State status (25th or higher in the state meet) will require stepping out of the comfort zone and fighting through pain.
“Sometimes it’s hard to push myself to be my very best,” Voigtschild said. “It’s hard to hurt that much. I will work on pushing through that, staying calm. I will just keep training hard and be smart. Do what I’ve done before.
“The first time you do something is a little bit scary, you don’t know what will happen. So this year I will be ready for the big races. It doesn’t get any easier, but you get faster.”
Greenan will ask her star to shine. “As long as she keeps believing in herself, not concerning herself with how fast she ran last year, she needs to focus on each race, expect some pain,” Greenan said. “Nobody has ever drowned in sweat. As long as she is excited to work hard and keep her eyes on the prize, she could do very well.”
That’s the top spot. The next four? That starts with Claire Voigtschild, who will count on her experience to show the way.
“I just want to help the other people, encourage them, even if their first few meets are downing,” Claire said. “Experience helps me know, even if the first meets are difficult because it’s hot, to keep going.”
BNL advanced to the regional as a team last season, finishing 12th. Sophomores returning with that background include Ashlynn York and Addison Rope. The fifth spot will have to be earned through trials and meet tribulation from among freshmen Sophie Guthrie, Genevieve Walker and Maggie Minton. Greenan will also have extra coaching help with the return of former BNL standout Grace Tanksley and the addition of Dana Ashley to the staff.
”We’re a pretty young team,” Greenan said. “We have our veterans, but the fifth spot is up for grabs.”
The Stars will open the season in the Valley Kickoff at Terre Haute, site of the IHSAA state finals, on Saturday.
