by Coaches Kyle Lewis, Morgan Serkes, and Richard Furst
Goshen junior Jackson St. Lawrence delivered a storybook finish to his cross country season, turning heads with a breakthrough performance at the New York State Federation Championship at Bowdoin Park. Entering the meet seeded 34th, St. Lawrence surged far beyond expectations, racing to a 13th-place finish in a time of 16:20.0; one of the best performances in both program and sectional history.
Facing the deepest field of the year, St. Lawrence proved he belonged among New York’s elite. The Federation Championship brings together the top finishers from the NYSPHSAA Championships as well as the best qualifiers from PSAL, CHSAA, AIS, and NYSAISAA. Only 40 individuals statewide earn an invitation, along with 26 of the top teams, creating a true all-star test of New York’s strongest athletes.
St. Lawrence not only thrived under the pressure but emerged as the fastest runner from Section IX, a remarkable achievement on Bowdoin Park’s notoriously demanding 5K course. His result was even more impressive given the challenging nature of that layout: from the opening gun, athletes must establish position early before the course quickly funnels into narrower paths. The first half features some long, challenging climbs; requiring strength, patience, and careful pacing, while the second half reverses sharply into a fast, downhill descent that rewards athletes who can maintain rhythm without losing control. Overnight rain also left some sections muddy and slick, conditions further chewed up by earlier races.
St. Lawrence also recorded the 17th-fastest Section IX time ever run on the course; history stretching back decades of championship-level competition.
Adding to the significance of his day, St. Lawrence set a new Goshen High School course record at Bowdoin, breaking the previous mark set by standout Liam Higgins in 2017. His run cements him firmly among the greatest cross country athletes ever to come out of the Goshen program.