Mid-Prairie dominates All-Union girls cross-country teams

It’s like a broken record. The cross-country season begins and the Mid-Prairie girls roll from Day 1.

The 2021 girls cross-country scene was dominated by the Golden Hawks. Mid-Prairie began the year as the Class 2A favorite, and despite some COVID-19 and injury related setbacks, finished it at the top.

The Golden Hawks logged their fifth-straight state cross-country championship, and they once again dominate the All-Union team, which includes coach Mark Hostetler, captain Danielle Hostetler and four more Golden Hawks.

The 2021 All-Union girls cross-country team looks a lot like it did in 2020. The squad has seven repeat names of the eight last season. Only one spot is occupied by a new entrant to the list.

Coach

Mark Hostetler, Mid-Prairie

Mid-Prairie’s head coach is once again the obvious choice for Coach of the Year honors in the Union coverage area.

Hostetler’s Golden Hawks won a fifth-straight state cross-country championship. His family also dominated the individual rankings, as daughter Danielle won the sixth-straight state title in the Hostetler household.

After rolling to a River Valley Conference championship and a first-place finish in the state qualifier, the Golden Hawks scored 50 points in the Class 2A state race, beating second-place Denver (61) to re-secure the crown.

Captain

Danielle Hostetler, sophomore, Mid-Prairie

Like sisters Anna and Marie before her, Mid-Prairie’s Danielle Hostetler is owning the Class 2A field. Through two years in high school, Hostetler has two state championships. She now has two selections as All-Union captain.

Hostetler was one of five Golden Hawks in the Top-6 at the 2021 River Valley Conference meet, which she won in 19 minutes, 21.23 seconds. A couple of weeks later, she ran the state race in 18:27.23 to win the meet by over 22 seconds.

With two years left in high school, Hostetler has plenty in front of her. She will no doubt be one of the favorites next year, not only to win individually and lead her team, but to once again lock up the All-Union captain position.

Sydney Yoder, senior, Mid-Prairie

Another repeat selection for the Golden Hawk girls is Sydney Yoder, another incredible talent on the Mid-Prairie squad.

Yoder finished her senior season in style, being part of another conference and state championship team.

Yoder took second at the River Valley Conference meet, crossing the tape in 20:31.51. She followed that with a 7th-place finish at state, finishing in 19:22.98 for the second-best Golden Hawk time.

Jaden Yoder, senior, Mid-Prairie

The Mid-Prairie cross-country dynasty is a family affair, and the Yoder twins are proof of that. Jaden Yoder has often been right in front of or right behind her twin sister in their high school careers, and 2021 was no different.

Yoder was the third Golden Hawk to cross the tape in both the conference and state meet. At the River Valley meet, she finished in 20:46.44 to give the team a third-place finish and a sweep of the Top-3 spots. At state, she finished 13th, in 19:41.94.

Mitzi Evans, senior, Mid-Prairie

Another strong member of the Golden Hawks’ decorated senior class, Evans polished off another huge year with yet another state team title.

Evans took fifth place at the River Valley meet, locking in a time of 21:10.64. At state, she made it four Golden Hawks under 20 minutes with a final mark of 19:59.55.

Although the Mid-Prairie dynasty has hardly been challenged in the last five years, the Golden Hawks will certainly miss the services of their senior class, which has presided over a historic run.

Abby Fleming, sophomore, Mid-Prairie

The only non-returning member of the 2021 All-Union girls cross-country team is Fleming, a rising star for the Golden Hawks.

Fleming strengthened the Mid-Prairie pack all year. She took sixth at the River Valley meet, crossing in 21:24.83. She then nearly made it five Golden Hawks in the Top-20 at the state meet, finishing 21st, in 20:11.13.

Fleming will be a major factor in deciding whether or not the Golden Hawks’ sophomore class can carry on a championship tradition at Mid-Prairie.

Lauren Derscheid, senior, Pekin

The Pekin girls cross-country squad was the Class of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference this year, and the Panthers’ senior leader was a big reason why.

Derscheid edged teammate Lauren Steigleder by 10 seconds to secure her first ever SEISC individual title with a final time of 20:50.13. The Panthers dominated the team race, wining by 31 points.

Pekin punched its ticket for the state meet with a second-place team finish at the state qualifier. At state, the Panthers took third place, with 171 points, helped out by Derscheid’s 24th-place time of 20:58.52.

Abby Blint, senior, Mt. Pleasant

The lone Southeast Conference champion of the list is a name that has been toward the top of the SEC girls pecking order since she was just a freshman.

Blint is the only member of the 2021 All-Union class to fail to make the state meet. Hampered by a lower-body injury, Mt. Pleasant’s senior-leader finished outside of the Top-25 at the state qualifying meet, but she did plenty enough during the year to earn her spot.

Blint’s biggest score of the year was at the SEC championship in Burlington. After winning the SEC race as a junior, she flew to victory once again as a senior, crossing the tape in 20:32 to win the meet by 34 seconds.

Blint’s career as a cross-country runner came with three SEC team championships, two individual titles and one state appearance.