6 athletes we will miss

Every single high school athlete will be missed this spring.

There are many track and field athletes in the Union coverage area that would have had an outstanding season this spring, based on their past accomplishments. The fourth year of high school is usually the most productive for an athlete.

Because the seniors are missing their final chance at high school sports glory, the Union wanted to single out some of the elite.

1. Hostetler's final go-round

Mid-Prairie's Marie Hostetler very nearly was a Class 2A state quadruple-winner last year. Hostetler captured the titles in the 3,000- and 1,500-meter races and anchored the Golden Hawks' victorious distance medley relay.

Her only setback was in the 800-meter run, in which she was edged by Aplington-Parkersburg's Sophia Jungling, who also would have returned this spring.

A Liberty University signee, Hostetler has accumulated five state track titles (three in individual events, two in relays), plus five second-place finishes (three in which she finished behind older sister Anna Hostetler), a third and a fifth.

Hostetler is a three-time individual state cross country champion and holds the state meet record time in that race.

She helped lead the Golden Hawks to 2A state titles in 2018 and 2019. They were second in 2017.

2. Hunt's chance at title

Washington's Ethan Hunt was seventh in the Drake Relays 400-meter hurdles and sixth at the Class 3A state meet last year. His time in the event at state was 55.34 seconds. Hunt was also part of the sprint medley relay team that finished 11th at the state meet in 1 minute, 49.2 seconds.

3. Yahnke's ability to fly

Highland's Emily Yahnke was the Class 1A long jump champion in 2018 as a sophomore. Last year as a junior, she was second with a leap of 17 feet, 4 inches even though she fouled on three of her jumps.

Yahnke was the anchor leg of the Huskies 4x100 meter relay that placed third at the state meet. She placed sixth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.14.

4. Magnani's title defense

The Mt. Pleasant girls were all set for what could have been one of their best seasons in recent memory. The Panther girls had three returners who finished top five at the 2019 state meet, including defending state shot put champion Lexie Magnani.

Magnani, a Northern Iowa commit, dominated the Class 3A shot put competition last season and was a favorite to end her high school career with back-to-back titles.

Not only was Magnani a top name in the Class 3A ranks, she could have added a Drake Relays title as well. Magnani finished third at Drake in 2019 and the two throwers ahead of her both graduated last spring.

5. Kooiker aims for the sky

Fairfield's Landon Kooiker reached new heights in 2019, taking home a sate title in the Class 3A high jump. The junior at the time lept 6 foot 7 inches on his first jump, just over a month after topping out at 6-foot five-inches during the Drake Relays.

Kooiker had set his goals to take home a Drake title this winter, and had the potential to finish his high school career with back-to-back state titles. He will next be in action on the NCAA Division 1 circuit, as a UNI Panther.

6. Seberg's shot at gold

The stars were aligning for Mt. Pleasant's Rylan Seberg, who finished top four at the Drake Relays and in the state meet in 2019. Seberg jumped 21 foot, 8.25 inches at the Drake Relays, and would have won the 2019 state title with a jump that far at state, but he was edged by three other leapers.

Seberg was one of three Class 3A long jumpers returning from the top five in last year's state meet, and the third-highest returning jumper from the Drake Relays. He was set to be the one to watch for the Panther boys in 2020.