The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys and girls cross country teams look to clear the final hurdle ahead of Fort Dodge and the state meet tonight when they travel to Williamsburg for the 2021 class 2A state qualifier. The Golden Hawk girls enter action as the heavy favorite to take home the team and individual titles. Mid-Prairie is ranked No. 1 in this week’s class 2A team poll from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. They have held the top spot all season. They won the team championship at the River Valley Conference meet last week. Four members of the team are featured in this week’s class 2A individual poll led by reigning River Valley Conference, state qualifier and state champion Danielle Hostetler at No. 1, Sydney Yoder is No. 11, Jaden Yoder No. 13 and Mitzi Evans No. 19. The Golden Hawks were champions at this event last season and are trying to win their fifth consecutive state championship. The Golden Hawk girls talked after last week’s River Valley Conference meet about winning the title and their goals still ahead. “We’re proud of what we did today winning the conference championship but we know this isn’t an end goal. So we’re celebrating here but know that districts and state is where it counts. We’re hoping to win our fifth straight state championship and the seniors on the team know it’s our last chance so we’re really pushing for it. That’s our biggest goal.”

The Mid-Prairie boys come into this meet off of a runner-up finish at the River Valley Championship meet last week in Iowa City. The Golden Hawks are ranked No. 4 in this week’s class 2A team poll from the IATC. Individually, Mid-Prairie’s Thaddeus Shetler is ranked No. 14 in class 2A.

The field of teams tonight includes eight ranked teams and 10 ranked individuals. Joining the Golden Hawks in Williamsburg tonight are the No. 11 Albia girls and the Albia boys, Cardinal, Centerville, Central Lee, Chariton, the No. 13 Davis County boys and No. 17 Davis County girls, No. 20 East Marshall boys and the East Marshall girls, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Interstate 35, Prairie City Monroe, West Central Valley, West Marshall and the No. 3 Williamsburg boys and No. 5 Williamsburg girls. Action starts tonight at 4p.m. and continues into the evening in Williamsburg.