Some of the area’s best cross country runners competed at the Steve Johnson Invitational Saturday at Wartburg College in Waverly, and the race was another opportunity for the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk girls to show why they’re the top-ranked team in Class 2A.

Mid-Prairie finished third in the team standings, thanks largely to senior Danielle Hostetler winning yet again. The three-time state champion finished first at Wartburg with a time of 18 minutes 46 seconds. Fellow Golden Hawk senior Phoebe Shetler was 36th, while seniors Annika Poll and Greta Sieren also had top-60 times and junior Emmett Swartzentruber had the best finish for the Hawk boys in 25th.

Washington was 17th in the boys’ team standings, led by senior Micah Rees finishing fourth in 15:47, once again setting a school record. The Demon girls were 15th as a team thanks to sophomore Iris Dahl crossing the finish line in 23rd.

Freshman Iris Garza had the best time for the Columbus girls to just sneak inside the top 60. While the Wildcats will next race at this year’s Southeast Iowa Super Conference Championships Thursday in Donnellson, Washington is off until the North Linn meet Saturday.