Through wind and frigid temperatures Saturday, the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk cross country team continued their mastery of the State Cross Country meet in Fort Dodge and brought home more hardware.

The Golden Hawk boys program made history. The Hawk’s Emmett Swartzentruber made a move in the second mile to wrestle away the lead and wouldn’t give it up down the stretch, becoming the first individual boys State Champ in Golden Hawk history with his blistering time of 15:51. He beat second place Neal Pinter of Denver by two seconds. He spoke at Kennedy Park after the race about the run and the accomplishment. Swartzentruber said, “Early on, I worked my way up. I was top 10. There was a pack of guys ahead of me and I was like ‘Alright, if I’m going to take this championship, I have to do it now!’ I got there, passed them, and they put up a good fight. It’s a little bit scary and a little awesome too, you’re like ‘Yes! I’m in first, I can do this!’ But you also know that these guys are really going for me. In the last 800, they were right there trying to get me. I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to let them. I bore down and kept going. I came to that finish line and I just couldn’t believe it! I was so pumped up! I yelled a little bit. It was crazy! Seeing all of my family there. I have never hugged so many people in my life. Just felt awesome!”

His championship also ensured another streak continued. It’s the eighth straight season a Golden Hawk runner has won the individual title in 2A. He joins the family of Hostetlers, Anna, Marie and Danielle in accomplishing the feat consecutively. Other finishers for Mid-Prairie included Preston Yutzy 39th, Jayse Yoder 86th, Maxon Swartzentruber 95th, Jesse Stultz 100th, Daniel Rodgers 114th and Jacob Donaldson 116th. The Hawks finished 10th as a team with 231 points. Des Moines Christian won the team championship with 63.

In the girls race, the Hawks finished just outside of the team trophy race in fourth with 122 points. Des Moines Christian won the team title with 101. The Golden Hawks were led by Danielle Hostetler, who turned in another All-State performance, placing fifth in 18:55. Hillary Trainer of Sumner-Fredericksburg won the individual championship in 18:09. Other Mid-Prairie runners included Brooklyn Stutzman 37th, Abby Fleming 43rd, Greta Sieren 45th, Kendal Landstrum 51st, Phoebe Shetler 53rd and Annika Poll 93rd.

After Saturday’s meet, Mid-Prairie says goodbye to seniors Hostetler, Fleming, Sieren, Shetler, Poll, Rodgers and Donaldson.