The first cross country rankings for 2023 have been announced by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches and the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks find themselves recognized.

The Golden Hawk girls sit atop the 2A team rankings. The Hawks were a state meet team a season ago. Although their string of five state 2A team titles stopped last year, they finished fifth as a club, led by junior Danielle Hostetler’s third straight individual state championship. Hostetler holds the top spot in the individual 2A poll. She was ranked No. 1 in each poll last season. She is joined by senior teammate Abby Fleming at No. 10.

The Golden Hawk boys are No. 7 in the first 2A team rankings. Mid-Prairie qualified for state last season as a team, finishing 13th in Fort Dodge with the top finish coming from Emmett Swartzentruber in 20th. A pair of Golden Hawks are ranked individually, with Swartzentruber entering his junior season at No. 13 and junior Preston Yutzy No. 26 in 2A.

The Golden Hawk boys and girls start their season Monday at the rescheduled Iowa City West meet on the campus of the University of Iowa.