Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Yearbook

There was no sophomore slump for Hillcrest Academy second year runner Marie Yoder. Following a phenomenal freshman campaign that saw school records and an appearance at the State Cross Country meet in Fort Dodge, Yoder ran it back, and was sensational as a sophomore.

Yoder put together a stretch of three straight September victories which included individual titles at English Valleys, Fairfield and Burlington. Her runner-up finish at the Southeast Iowa Superconference Championships in Columbus Junction tied the school record for best finish, and is the second year-in-a-row she has finished second at the event.

In the postseason, Yoder was also runner-up at the 2024 State Qualifier meet in Pleasantville to advance to State for the second straight season, doing it in a new school record time of 19:15. At State in Fort Dodge, Yoder posted the second highest finish in school history, and best ever for a sophomore Raven runner, finishing eighth in 19:16 and earning All-State honors for the second straight season.