St. Lawrence Cross Country Sends Strong Boys and Girls Teams to Indiana State Championships

The event happens Saturday in Terre Haute

Photos provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The St. Lawrence Panthers Cross Country program will be well represented at the Indiana State Championships after an outstanding 2026 season that saw both the boys and girls teams achieve state-qualifying standards.

Leading the boys team is seventh-grader James Pursell, who enters the state meet undefeated during the regular season. Pursell's consistent front-running performances helped lead a squad of five boys to meet the team qualifying standard and earn a trip to state competition. The Panthers will also be represented in the boys JV division by Corbin Manis.

On the girls side, St. Lawrence will send a full varsity team of seven runners to compete in the Small School Division. The Panthers achieved an impressive team average of 13:30 or faster, meeting the state team qualifying standard through outstanding depth and teamwork throughout the season.

Individually qualifying for the varsity girls race were:

• Molly Lewis (8th Grade)
• Beckett Wagner (8th Grade)
• Sadie Kuhn (6th Grade)
• Shelby Lahey (8th Grade)

Completing the state-qualifying varsity lineup are:

• Malina Corsmeier (6th Grade)
• Evelyn Horn (6th Grade)
• Evelyn Carroll (8th Grade)

The Panthers will also have a strong presence in the girls JV division with:

• Luella Story (4th Grade)
• Caroline Horn (4th Grade)
• Brynn Wagner (5th Grade)

Story and Horn have enjoyed remarkable seasons, currently ranking 3rd and 5th among all fourth-grade girls in the State of Indiana, respectively.

Throughout the season, the Panthers recorded impressive team victories over several strong programs, including East Central Middle School, Greendale Middle School and South Dearborn, among others. Their success has been built on a commitment to consistent training, team culture, and a willingness to compete against top competition throughout southeastern Indiana.

As the state championships approach, Pursell will look to cap his undefeated season with a finish inside the Top 25 overall in the Varsity Small School Boys Division, while the girls team aims to continue its strong performances against the state's best runners.

"The dedication and commitment these athletes have shown since the first day of summer training has been incredible," said Head Coach Bryan Wagner. "They have embraced every workout, supported one another, and taken pride in representing St. Lawrence. What makes this group special is that their success comes from showing up every day and doing the little things right. We are excited to see them compete on the state's biggest stage and represent our school, families, and community."

The Indiana Middle School Cross Country State Championship will be held Saturday, October 3 in Terre Haute.