The Hillcrest boys and girls track teams are waiting through the COVID-19 activities shut down in hopes of having at least a shortened season. The Ravens are coming off of a season where they were led by a duo on the girls side. Senior Suzanna Yoder and freshman Leah Bontrager combined for three Southeast Iowa Superconference Championships at the league meet in Mediapolis. Yoder won gold in the 200 and 400, adding a runner-up finish in the 100 while Bontrager won the half mile championship.

Those two also represented the Ravens at the state meet in Des Moines after qualifying in a total four events, Yoder running the 100, 200 and 400 and Bontrager the 800. At state, Yoder was sixth in the 400, 11th in the 200 and 18th in the 100. Bontrager was 20th in the 800. This week, Hillcrest head coach Marty Gingerich talked about his boys and girls teams for 2020. “This year we have seven girls and four boys, numbers are down a little bit from last year. Aaron Hershberger is back in the hurdles as a junior this year. Colby Harris is back for his second year, he ran 200s and 400s last year. Logan Thomas is back after a year off, he’ll be a thrower. Jesse Slater also returns but is dealing with a foot injury. On the girls side, Leah Bontrager is our strongest returner. Ainsley Shaw is a senior. Sarah Durflinger is returning to throw discus, Sarah Miller the shot put, Samara Jimenez will also throw the shot put and possibly discus, and Isabella Canchola will also try sprinting events this year as a freshman.”

The state athletic organizations have set a tentative date of May 1st for a return to practice and May 4th for competition following the COVID-19 activities shut down.