More hardware is headed to Mid-Prairie High School after Saturday’s state cross country meet. Golden Hawk girls cross country team captured their third straight state title with a team score of 61 points, besting Williamsburg by a single point. The Golden Hawks were led by Marie Hostetler who claimed her third consecutive individual state title in a time of 17:58. She talked after the race about the title and the team effort. “It means a lot. We started our state championship run with my sister Anna and I think at one point Mike Jay called me Anna today and it made me happy to think of her. At the top of the last hill I tried to get up momentum. I struggle with kicking before I can see the finish line but I think I did that today. My teammates mean so much to me. They are so incredible. They keep me calm before a race. Knowing that we are all running for each other means so much to me.”

Other runners for the Golden Hawks included Ana Fleming 15th, Mitzi Evans 18th, Abbagail Evans 22nd, Sydney Yoder 33rd, Angelina Evans 49th and Jaden Yoder 63rd. The Mid-Prairie boys had a pair of runners compete with Nathan Wallington taking 60th in 17:47 and Jamison Stutzman 129th. After the race, Mid-Prairie head coach Mark Hostetler talked about the title. “It means a lot because we lost a lot of seniors from last year’s team. We had no idea where they were going to come from. We wanted it, Williamsburg wanted it, but I think our girls were a little bit more patient and better at pacing. Williamsburg ran just as good if not better today than they did at districts. We ran smarter.”

The girls cross country program is the first in Mid-Prairie history to win three consecutive state titles in any sport.