Wayne State University Athletics

Men's Cross Country 12/1/2025 10:55:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Men's Cross Country Adds Three For 2026

DETROIT -- Wayne State University head cross country coach Grant Lofdahl has announced the signing of three newcomers for the 2026 men's cross country season.

Becoming Warriors next fall are Jack Estelle (Allegan, Mich. / Hopkins), Landen Livingston (Whitmore Lake, Mich.) and Elijah Thompson (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Kalamazoo Central).

Jack Estelle, 6-0, Fr., Allegan, Mich. / Hopkins
High School: Will be a 2026 graduate of Hopkins High School ... was a four-time cross country letterwinner ... competed at the MHSAA Division 2 state cross country meet each of his final three seasons placing 73rd and 75th his last two years ... garnered All-Ottawa-Kent Conference - Silver Division honors all four seasons after finishing seventh, seventh, fourth and second ... posted a personal-best 5K time of 16:06.5 at the 2024 OK meet ... will earn four letters in track ... participated in the 3200m race at the MHSAA Division 2 regional track meet each of his first three seasons, and the 1600m race in both 2023 and 2025 ... notched a personal-best time of 4:27.69 for 1600m at the 2025 Distance Night Under the Lights at Houseman Field ... registered a personal-best time of 9:50.38 for 200m at the same competition in 2025 ... also competed in basketball during his junior year for the Vikings, and soccer all four years receiving All-OK Conference and All-District recognition in soccer ... served as a soccer team captain as a senior ... is a member of the National Honor Society ... was an AP Scholar ... recorded all A's each of his first three years at HHS.

Personal: Full name -- Jack Q. Estelle ... born on May 20, 2007, in Zeeland, Mich. ... son of Eric and Andrea Estelle ... mother played basketball at Calvin College and ranks among the all-time best in career blocks (116) ... has two brothers, Micah and Carter, and a younger sister, Lily ... plans to major in Civil Engineering ... last name is pronounced eh-STEHL.

Coach Lofdahl on Jack Estelle: "Jack is a guy who has long-term potential, when he increases his mileage and starts training for the longer collegiate racing distances. He is the type of person we feel will be a great overall fit fit for our program, being an outstanding student and a leader and motivator who helped build the culture of cross country and distance running at Hopkins High."

Landen Livingston, 6-0, Fr., Whitmore Lake, Mich. / Whitmore Lake
High School: Will be a 2026 graduate of Whitmore Lake High School ... earned four varsity letters in cross country for coach Casey Livingston ... was a two-year cross country team captain ... competed at the MHSAA Division 4 state finals all four years ... placed seventh in 2025 in a time of 16:12.70, after winning the regional meet ... ran a personal-best 15:49.13 at the 2025 Larry Steeb Invitational ... finished 10th at the 2024 state meet ... placed second at the regional meet in both 2023 and 2024 ... was a four-time Academic All-State recipient in cross country ... also competed in golf, basketball and track & field ... received First Team All-MIAC honors in basketball as a junior ... competed in both the 3200m race and 4x800m relay at the 2023 MHSAA Division 4 state track meet ... won the 3200m event at the 2024 regional meet to qualify for the state finals ... participated in four events (1600m, 3200m, 4x400m relay and 4x800m relay) at the 2025 Division 4 state finals ... ran a personal-best 9:59.19 for 3200m at the 2025 Davison Twilight Classic ... served as a team captain in both basketball and track & field ... is a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Full name -- Landen R. Livingston ... born on February 6, 2008, in Southfield, Mich. ... son of Casey D. and Casey L. Livingston ... father played basketball at Concordia (Ann Arbor) and mother (Casey Hoover) played soccer for two years (2005-06) at Concordia ... father totaled 379 points and 179 assists, while playing 60 games in two seasons (2004-06) ... has a sister, Kaylie ... plans to major in either Sport Management or Biology.

Coach Lofdahl on Landen Livingston: "Smaller school runners have tended to thrive in our program, despite WSU being a bigger university in the city, and we feel that Landen will do very well as a Warrior. He comes from a running family and a great cross country culture and tradition at Whitmore Lake, and has the right kind of well-rounded mentality to be a high-level D2 runner."

Elijah Thompson, 6-0, Fr., Kalamazoo, Mich. / Kalamazoo Central
High School: Will be a 2026 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School ... was a three-year cross country letterwinner for the Maroon Giants ... helped KCHS take third place at the 2025 MHSAA Division 1 state cross country meet, after the squad finished fourth the year prior ... ran in the state meet as a sophomore as the Maroon Giants placed fourth ... served as a team captain in cross country as a senior ... also lettered four years in track ... received All-Region recognition as a member of the 4x800m relay ... ran the anchor leg on the 4x800m relay at the 2025 MHSAA Division 1 state finals track meet ... was a two-time Academic All-State honoree.

Personal: Full name -- Elijah L. Thompson ... born on June 2, 2008, in Kalamazoo, Mich. ... son of Kyle Thompson and Paulette Banghart ... has a brother, Noah ... plans to major in Secondary Education.

Coach Lofdahl on Elijah Thompson: "Elijah has been a leader and key contributor for one of the top cross country programs in the state at Kalamazoo Central, and he is someone who we knew would be a good fit for the Wayne State team as soon as he visited campus. He likes to work really hard, and that work ethic will be beneficial when he moves up to 8K and 10K races at the collegiate level."

The 2025 Warriors finished fourth out of nine teams at the GLIAC Championships, and ninth out of 29 schools at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship.

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