The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys and girls cross country teams begin the 2018 season Saturday when they make a trip to Cedar Rapids for a meet. The Golden Hawks had one of the most successful seasons in program history a year ago with the girls capturing their first ever team state title, led by individual state champion and record holder Marie Hostetler, while the boys followed up their 2016 team state title with a runner-up finish.

This year the Golden Hawk girls enter the season as the preseason favorite to repeat their title run, opening the season in the top spot in the class 2A poll from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. They are led by Hostetler who is back for her junior season and is ranked No. 1 in the state. Mid-Prairie also has three other ranked runners in their lineup including Ana Fleming at No. 5, Mariah Brase at No. 25 and Kate Cavanagh at No. 26.

The Golden Hawk boys enter the season looking to rebuild after losing a large senior class. They have one runner in the preseason rankings with Quinn Schmidt checking in at No. 29.
Joining Mid-Prairie today at Cedar Rapids Prairie are Anamosa, Cascade, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Clear Creek Amana, Davenport West, Fort Madison, Iowa City West, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Maquoketa, Marion, Mason City, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Muscatine, North Cedar, Prairie, Solon, Washington, Waukee, West Liberty, and West Dubuque. Action continues all day in Cedar Rapids.