State qualifier week is here for local cross country runners. Several Washington Demons and Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks find themselves ranked among the best in the state in this week’s new individual poll from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. For the Demon boys, senior Micah Rees climbs a spot from fourth to third in this week’s Class 3A poll. For the Demon girls, sophomore Iris Dahl is 16th, after ranking 9th a week ago. It’s been a big home stretch of the season for Washington as the Demon boys and girls both completed a three-peat of team conference championships at Fort Madison with Rees making it back to back individual titles, and Dahl going SEC runner-up. In the 3A team rankings issued October 10th, the Demon boys were seventh and the Washington girls 17th.

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks have three runners ranked in Class 2A. For the Golden Hawk girls senior Danielle Hostetler is No. 2 this week, down one spot. She is joined by senior teammate Greta Sieren who jumps back into the rankings at No. 30. For the Mid-Prairie boys, Emmett Swartzentruber is seventh this week, rising one spot. The Golden Hawks had a big day in Iowa City a week ago at the River Valley Conference Championships, with the girls bringing home team gold and placing their entire varsity squad on All-Conference teams, led by Hostetler’s runner up finish. The boys were third as a team, led by Swartzentruber’s individual RVC Title. He was also named Runner of the Year in the conference. Head coach Jeremy Meyers was named Coach of the year. In the 2A team rankings issued October 10th, the Golden Hawk girls were atop the poll and the Mid-Prairie boys were 10th