Today, Pella and the Central College Cross Country Course host one of the biggest meets in the midwest. The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks are attending the Heartland Classic, a showcase of more than 1,700 athletes. The four time defending state champion Golden Hawk girls come into the meet off of a team title last Saturday in Monticello, where Danielle Hostetler clinched the individual title running a personal best 17:56. The Mid-Prairie girls are ranked No. 1 in class 2A in Iowa according to the latest poll from the Iowa High School Track and Field Coaches Association. Individually, Hostetler is in the top spot in the 2A ratings, Sydney Yoder is 11th, Phoebe Shetler 19th, Jaden Yoder 20th, and Mitzi Evans 23rd. The Mid-Prairie boys are ranked fifth in 2A. They finished fifth at Monticello, led by Thaddeus Shetler’s third place individual time. Shetler is ranked No. 5 in Iowa 2A cross country individually.

The Hawks will run against a field of competition that includes teams from five states with 63 runners in the top 30, four different No. 1 ranked runners in their respective class and states, five reigning state team champion squads and a pair of reigning state individual champions. Action continues all day today on the Central College cross country course in Pella.