While a little later than expected, the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk cross country team will hit the course for the first time in 2020 today when they travel to Anamosa. Mid-Prairie was supposed to be in action Thursday at the Iowa City West Invitational at the Kickers Complex.

In 2019, the Golden Hawk girls captured their third straight state team title, besting Williamsburg by one point in Fort Dodge 62-61. Marie Hostetler won her third individual title in 17:58. Other Golden Hawk finishers at state included Ana Fleming 15th, Mitzi Evans 18th, Abbagail Evans 22nd, Syndey Yoder 33rd, Angelina Evans 49th and Jaden Yoder 63rd. The Mid-Prairie girls were also RVC and state qualifier meet champs. The Mid-Prairie boys sent a pair of runners to Fort Dodge and the state meet with Nathan Wallington 60th in 17:47 and Jamison Stutzman 129th in 19:42.

The Golden Hawk girls come into this year ranked No. 1 in the state in the preseason poll for class 2A from the Iowa High School Track and Field Coaches Association. The Mid-Prairie boys are ranked 14th in 2A. The Mid-Prairie girls return four of their seven runners from Fort Dodge last year with Ana Fleming, Mitzi Evans, Sydney Yoder and Jaden Yoder back. On the boys side Stutzman and Wallington both return along with Lucas Bontrager, Chandler Hershberger, Mose Yoder, Robert Nagy, and Jordan Stock. This week Mid-Prairie head coach Mark Hostetler previewed the upcoming season. “They’ve been lifting weights, running a lot, doing core exercises. All of the things they need to do to get faster. There has been a pretty big group of dedicated runners. I surprised by their dedication and maturity. Comparing last year’s team to this year, there are more kids in shape coming into this season than we had a year ago. The upperclassmen did a great job of including the younger kids and encouraging them. They had a good time together with a lot of team bonding even though it was hard work.”

Joining Mid-Prairie today at Anamosa will be Clear Creek Amana, Fort Madison, Midland, Muscatine, Solon and West Liberty. Action starts at 8:30 this morning and continues all day at Anamosa High School.