The 2023 State Cross Country Championships wrapped up in Fort Dodge on Saturday. Area schools had a successful weekend at State. On Friday, October 27th, in Class 1A Girls, Hillcrest Academy freshman Marie Yoder placed 13th and was named all-state with a new school record. Columbus freshman Iris Garza placed 23rd. For Class 1A Boys Winfield-Mt. Union junior Kohlby Newsom took home 19th place, and Columbus senior Damian Vergara placed 102nd. 

On Saturday, October 28th, in Class 2A Boys, Mid-Prairie finished 10th as a team. Emmett Swartzentruber won the individual Class 2A Championship and is the first boy in Mid-Prairie history to win the individual state title. This is the eighth straight year that a Golden Hawk runner has won an individual championship. In Class 2A Girls Mid-Prairie finished fourth as a team. Senior Danielle Hostetler was named all-state with a fifth place finish. She earned all-state honors all four years of her high school career. For Class 3A Girls Washington sophomore Iris Dahl finished fifth individually to earn all-state honors for the second straight season. In Class 3A Boys Washington finished fifth as a team, the highest finish in school history. They were led by senior Micah Rees in fourth to earn all-state honors.