The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk track and field teams and their fans had double-vision on a Thursday trip to Tipton as the Hawks swept the River Valley Conference team championships. Together, the Golden Hawk boys and girls piled up a dozen event championships. The Golden Hawk boys scored 122 points to second place Anamosa’s 76. The Hawks won eight events including a four-part sweep for Jayden Stafford in the wheelchair 100, 200, 400 and 800s in times of 18.24 seconds, 33.15 seconds, 1:04.34 and 2:19.48 respectively. Mid-Prairie delivered a 1-2 punch in the 3200 with Emmett Swartzentruber’s win in 9:54.42, followed by teammate Preston Yutzy. Burke Berry was shot put champ at 56’0.25”. In relays the Golden Hawk 4×200 of Nolan Jergens, Kendrick Kos, Cash Brown and Ryan Henry were winners in 1:31.78 and the distance medley brought home gold with Kaden Kos, Ryan Henry Cash Brown and Jayse Yoder in 3:36.50. Second place performances included Emmett Swartzentruber in the mile, and the 4×100 with Kaden and Kendrick Kos, Jergens and Henry. In third were Jayse Yoder in the 800, Kaden Kos in discus, and the 4×800 of Thomas Flynn, Max Swartzentruber, Yutzy and Emmett Swartzentruber. This is the boy’s first RVC title since 2018. Following the meet, Golden Hawk head coach Dain Jeppson spoke with KCII Sports about the team win.
Jeppson said, “It means we have a lot of good, talented kids. Jeremy (Meyers) and Lynnette (Poll) have done a tremendous job. I couldn’t do it without them. We have some really great kids that like to work and like what they’re doing. That’s fun!”
The Golden Hawk girls won the team chase with 125 points, beating the second place Tigers on their home track by 25. The Golden Hawks won four events on the evening including double gold for Jeorgia Evans in the 200 at 26.02 seconds and long jump at 17’9.50”. Dessa Poll won discus with a throw of 120’8” and the 4×200 was a winner with Jovi Evans, Myli Hershberger, Hannah Rodgers and Ruby Miller in 1:48.96. Second place performances included Rachel Hostetler in the 1500, the 4×100 with Jovi and Jeorgia Evans, Hershberger and Kyrie Poll and the 4×800 with Kendall Landstrum, Tessa Brokaw, Brooklyn Stutzman and Hostetler. The Hawks got third place finishes from Hostetler in the 800, Stutzman in the 3000, Harper Pacha in discus and shot put, and the shuttle hurdle with Claire Trimpe, Eva Marnin, Olivia Schlabach and Ruby Miller. This is the girls fourth RVC title in the last five years. Following the meet, Golden Hawk head coach Mark Hostetler talked about the group and the championship.
Hostetler said, “This is a fairly young group. We only had one senior here with us tonight. We have quite a few underclassmen and they way they performed was outstanding! A number of girls had maybe one race in-between, when they had maybe four races (on the night). To be able to do that they were mentally tough. We have a great conference, tough, top athletes in every event. We were really happy to be able to come out on top!”
This is the first time in recent program history the boys and girls have won the league championship in the same season. The Golden Hawks will next be in action Thursday at their state qualifier meet at Monticello.