Even with this consistent chilly weather making it hard for most folks to even walk down the street without shivering up a storm, the 2023 track and field season has begun to take shape. The best way to combat this frost inducing weather is to stay inside and that is just what Mid-Prairie and Hillcrest did for its first track meet of the season.  

The Golden Hawks and the Ravens traveled to Ames for the two day event, March 9-10, that is the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) Indoor Championships, located in Iowa State University’s Lied Athletic Recreation Center. 

Individual participants who place in the top six and relays placing in the top three would be awarded medals at this indoor meet. Running, jumping, throwing this indoor track meet had it all, with the girls competing on March 9 and the boys competing on March 10. 

Mid-Prairie Results

Despite snowy weather on the 9th, making travel a bit concerning, the Mid-Prairie girls track and field team arrived in Ames last Thursday to officially begin its season. 

A top finisher for Mid-Prairie was Danielle Hostetler, who took part in a pair of events. Hostetler was able to take fourth place in the 1500 meter run in 4:58.11. In the 3000 meter run she finished in seventh place with a time of 10:35.72.

Another top ten finisher for the Golden Hawks came from Tabitha Evans. Evans took a seventh place finish in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:00.73. Also taking part in the 400 meter dash for the Golden Hawks was Lanee Duwa, who finished in 51st with a time of 1:12.85.

A pair of Golden Hawks raced in the 800 meter run, Grace Conway and Greta Sieren. Conway finished the 800m in 44th place with a time of 2:57.21 and Sieren finished in 51st place with a time of 2:57.21.  

For the Mid-Prairie boys track and field team a top finisher was Emmett Swartzentruber. Earning a medal for his performance, he placed fifth in the 3200 meter run with a time of 10:20.21, which was also a PR. Keeping a consistent pace of about 58 seconds each 300 meters, Swartzentruber ran a solid race to earn his top five finish.  He also participated in the 4x800 meter relay alongside fellow teammates Preston Yutzy, Thomas Flynn, and Jacob Donaldson. This quartet of Golden Hawks finished in 9th place with a time of 9:07.10. 

Jayse Yoder was another top finisher for the Golden Hawks. Yoder earned a medal with a sixth place finish in the 1600 meter run. Running a 4:49.05 in the 1600m he was able to set a PR with that time. He was also a part of the distance medley and he competed with Mid-Prairie teammates Lanson Sullivan, Gentry Bontrager, and Kaden Meader. They were able to finish in second with a time of 3:49.55. 

Mid-Prairie had two participants in the high jump, Cain Brown and Shawn Dodds. Brown came in third in this event. He cleared the bar on his first attempt at 1.75 meters, 1.80 meters, and 1.85 meters. On his third attempt he cleared the bar at the 1.91 meter mark. Then, again on his third attempt, he cleared the bar at the 1.96 meter mark. At 2.01 meters he was unable to clear the bar after three attempts. 

Dodds finished in 16th place in the high jump. He was able to jump over the bar at 1.65m on his third attempt and then clear the bar at 1.70m, also on his third attempt. When the bar was raised to 1.75m he was unable to clear it after three attempts. 

For the shot put event Mid-Prairie had two participants, Burke Berry and Jackson Zahradnek. Berry was able to place 10th with his best throw traveling 12.64 meters. Zahradnek finished in 16th place with the farthest throw being 12.12 meters. 

Hillcrest Results

For the Hillcrest track and field team a top finish came from Delaney Shaw in the long jump event. On three attempts, her first being 4.24 meters and her third being 4.23 meters, her longest jump came on her second attempt, 4.33 meters. This jump was able to give her a 35th place finish. 

Morgyn Nafziger finished in 58th place in the shot put event for Hillcrest. Her best throw came on her first attempt, with the shot put traveling 7.19 meters. 

Owen Scott took part in two events, the high jump and the long jump. In the long jump he was able to finish in 19th place. Scott’s best jump came on his last attempt, 5.15m. 

In the high jump he was able to finish in sixth place after clearing the bar at 1.55m, 1.60m, 1.65m, 1.70m, and 1.75m. At the 1.80m mark he was unable to clear the bar, but his sixth place finish did earn him a medal.