Opening Day at the Iowa High School Track and Field Championships produced plenty of personal bests and first-time podiums.

Owen Scott of Hillcrest Academy captured third place in the 1A boys high jump while his sister, Mya, qualified for the finals in the girls 100-meter dash.

Mid-Prairie sophomore Jovi Evans qualified for the finals in both the 2A 100 and 200.

Three-time state champ Danielle Hostetler posted a sixth-place finish in the girls 1500 and Emmett Swartzentruber had a career-best ninth-place finish in the boys 3200.

Mid-Prairie Results 

The Golden Hawks took part in 11 events on Thursday. 

It was a top five finish for Mid-Prairie senior Landon Sullivan in the long jump. In his second year at state Sullivan’s leap of 21-01.00 claimed 4th place.

In the 3000m the Hawks were represented by seniors Danielle Hostetler and Abby Fleming. A first-place finish would have given Hostetler her 4th consecutive state title in the 3000m but claiming the top spot was Noelle Steines of Tipton in 10:08.85. 

It was a sixth-place finish for Hostetler in 10:39.45 and teammate Fleming placed 16th in 11:04.26

Running In the 3200m were juniors Emmett Swartzentruber, the 2A 2023 cross country state champion, and Preston Yutzy. Swartzentruber set a new personal best to place in the top ten, finishing with a time of 9:42.19 to claim 9th place. Yutzy ended with a time of 10:14 to place 16th.

Taking part in two prelim races was sophomore Jovi Evans. A top eight finish was needed to advance to the finals on Saturday and Evans was able to do just that. In the 100m she placed 4th in 12.66 and in the 200m she placed 5th in 25.65.

Taking part in the shot put on the boys side was junior Burke Berry and in the girls side it was sophomore Harper Pacha. Pacha placed 18th with a throw of 34-11.50 and Berry set a new PR with a throw of 51-11.50 to place 7th.

The quartet of Greta Sieren, Annika Poll, Brooklyn Stutzman, and Hostetler placed 8th in the girls 4x800m relay with a time of 9:51.94. 

In the boys 4x800m relay, the team of Swartzentruber, Thomas Flynn, Yutzy, and Jayse Yoder placed 17th in 8:26.15.

Hillcrest Results 

Sophomore Owen Scott set a new PR in the Class 1A long jump with a leap of 21-07.75 to claim 3rd place. This was an outstanding finish for Scott, who placed 11th in the long jump at state last year. 

Making her state debut, freshman Marie Yoder competed in the 1A 3000m, placing 16th in 11:30.03. 

It was a busy day for sophomore Rya Scott. Scott, making her first appearance at state, competed in four events: the 200m, the long jump, the 100m, and the 400m.

Her day started with the 200m prelims, where the top eight advanced to the finals on Saturday. Scott set a new PR with a time of 26.80 to place 19th. 

Next was the long jump where she placed 24th with a jump of 14-00.25.

In the 100m prelims, Scott won her heat with a new PR time of 12.69 to finish 6th overall. Her top eight finish advances her to the 100m finals on Saturday. 

Lastly, Scott wrapped up her eventful day in the 400m, placing 15th in 1:02.34.