All-Union girls cross-country

Another cross-country season has come and gone. If ones thing’s for sure it’s that the Union area has some of the best runners from across the entire state. They proved it once again this season.

Coming into this season, Mid-Prairie was five-time defending Class 2A state champions and while the Golden Hawks came up short in the team standings at state this time around, Danielle Hostetler took the gold for the third consecutive year, landing her as this year’s All-Union captain once again, the third time.

This time around Mid-Prairie has just four names on the list with Hostetler and Abby Fleming being the only two returning selections as well as Golden Hawks coach Mark Hostetler. Mid-Prairie’s Phoebe Shetler is one of the new selections.

Mid-Prairie’s runners are all juniors, while the rest of the list is all underclassmen including three freshmen.

Washington’s Quincy Griffis is the lone sophomore, while Washington’s Iris Dahl, Danville’s Alaina Gourley and Pekin’s Chloe Glosser are all freshmen.

Coach

Mark Hostetler, Mid-Prairie

Mid-Prairie’s head coach once again is the sure pick for this years All-Union team.

Hostetler helped the Golden Hawks get back to the state tournament, earning a fifth-place finish with 157 points this time around and not a sixth-straight state title.

His family also adds another individual title to its name as daughter Danielle won her third straight state title and the seventh straight of the Hostetler family.

Captain

Danielle Hostetler, junior, Mid-Prairie

Danielle Hostetler was rated No. 1 in Class 2A all season long for a reason. She showed why once again. No one has been able to keep up with the junior star for three years now as she land in the captain spot for the third time.

Hostetler not only dominated the River Valley Conference meet and the state qualifying meet but won state by over 20 seconds, clocking a time of 18:41.64.

With a year of high school to go, Hostetler is sure to be a favorite once again in 2023.

Iris Dahl, freshman, Washington

Dahl is just beginning her high school cross-country career and she’s already showing off her talent.

The freshman was nothing short of stellar throughout the cross-country season. Dahl helped the Demons put together one of their best seasons ever, picking up a sixth-place teams finish at state with 190 points. That’s the school’s first ever girls’ cross-country team race.

Dahl also did pretty well herself clocking a personal record in the state meet with a time of 19:20.71 to take seventh.

Abby Fleming, junior, Mid-Prairie

Along with Hostetler, Fleming is the second returning runner from the 2021 list.

Fleming put together a great junior campaign, notching her second trip back to the state tournament. In 2021, Fleming took 21st, but this time around she topped that performance with a higher finish and a faster time. In the 2022 state meet, Fleming took 16th with a time of 19:51.13.

She will look to get even better with one season to go for the Golden Hawks.

Alaina Gourley, freshman, Danville

Another freshman gracing this year’s list is Danville’s Alaina Gourley.

Gourley put together an outstanding first year of competition and was one of two Bears to make the trek to the state meet.

Out of the Class 1A Union runners, Gourley was the top finisher. She took 24th at state with a time of 20:14.87. She will be yet another young runner to have a wonderful high school career.

Chloe Glosser, freshman, Pekin

The Pekin freshman was at the forefront of the Panthers success this season. Glosser was one piece of the great Panther team.

Glosser helped the Panthers notch a top five rating for most of the season. She helped them walk away with 245 points at the state meet, which was good enough for ninth-place.

For a first time runner, she was one of the best. At the state meet she clocked a time of 20:28.86 giving her a 31st place finish in Class 1A.

Quincy Griffis, sophomore, Washington

Griffis is yet another great runner apart of a youthful Washington Demons team.

The lone sophomore on this years list helped the Demons finish sixth at the state meet, while also securing a top 50 finish for herself.

Griffis finished 50th at state with a time of 20.36.16. Her and her Demon teammates are sure to show out in 2023 as well.

Phoebe Shetler, junior, Mid-Prairie

Shetler was the third highest placer on this year’s Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks squad.

She put together a wonderful junior season, topping all of last season’s numbers. Along with the Golden Hawks fifth-place finish, Shetler secured a 44th place finish for herself in the state meet.

Shetler clocked a time of 20:53.49 for the 44th spot. Her and her Golden Hawk teammates will be back for more in 2023.