Chapter VII: The Hostetler state cross country championship saga keeps on churning

FORT DODGE — Despite her history and despite her growing lead, Danielle Hostetler never felt comfortable.

“I heard people say that I had a 10-second lead, then a 15-second lead,” she said. “At no time did I feel safe until I crossed the finish line.”

She did allow herself a quick sky-point, a couple of strides from the finish line.

To virtually nobody’s surprise, the Hostetler Sister Dynasty added another chapter Friday afternoon at Lakeside Golf Course. A junior, Danielle ran to her third consecutive Class 2A individual girls’ state cross country championship.

“It’s such a privilege to run on this course,” Hostetler said. “Each season is a whole new year, another year of hard work.”

And another link in the Hostetler championship chain. Anna Hostetler won the 2A title in 2016, Marie captured three in a row from 2017 through 2019, then Danielle took the proverbial baton, and has run with it.

Winning time: 18:41. Winning margin: 20 seconds.

It was safer than Hostetler thought.

Generally a controlled-start kind of runner at state, Hostetler had the lead before the mile mark. And, as she heard from witnesses along the course, the gap just kept widening.

“All glory to God,” she said. “He gives me strength in my body and clarity in my mind. I just tried to go out, not get into oxygen debt and keep lengthening my lead.”

Next year, Hostetler will have a chance to join Rebekah Topham (Griswold, 2011-14) as the only girls to win four titles.

Despite Hostetler’s triumph, Mid-Prairie’s five-year title run came to an end. Van Meter edged Williamsburg, 111-113, for the championship, with River Valley Conference entrants Monticello (145), Dyersville Beckman (154), Mid-Prairie (157) and Tipton (179) completing the top six.

“A little bittersweet,” Williamsburg Coach Nick Nordheim said. “When you come that close, you can’t help but be a little disappointed. But I’m so proud of these girls.”

The Raiders were ranked No. 7 in the final Iowa Association of Track Coaches rankings.

“We were underdogs, but we had a big talk last night,” said junior Zada Buchholtz, who led the Raiders with an 11th-place finish. “We said, ‘Let’s go win the thing.’ And we almost did.”

Van Meter had three runners in the top 20, to one for Williamsburg. But the Raiders’ depth very nearly produced a title.

Mackenzie Wilson of Jesup was fourth; Julia Mertz of Beckman was 10th.

Des Moines Christian claimed the boys’ title behind the 1-2 finish of senior Aaron Fynaardt and Caleb Ten Pasa. Fynaardt won his second straight crown, in 15:50.

The Lions accumulated 75 points; Okoboji was the runner-up with 99. Then it was Tipton (120), Waukon (127) and Oelwein (138).

Tipton had won three of the previous four titles.

Charlie Sieck of Starmont-West Central, Clay Bohlmann of Tipton and Chesney Capron of Monticello finished fourth, seventh and 10th.

A senior at West Central, Sieck wasn’t exactly basking in the glow of such a high finish.

“I wanted sub-16,” he said, after running 16:24. “It was a slow race. I had nothing left at the end.”

Class 2A Girls Results

Teams — 1. Van Meter 111, 2. Williamsburg 113, 3. Monticello 145, 4. Dyersville Beckman 154, 5. Mid-Prairie 157, 6. Tipton 179, 7. Denver 193, 8. New Hampton 231, 9. Cherokee 235, 10. Pella Christian 241, 11. Clarinda 243, 12. Unity Christian 249, 13. Albia 250, 14. Des Moines Christian 270, 15. GLR-Central Lyon 296.

Individuals — 1. Danielle Hostetler (Mid-Prairie), 18:41; 2. Katelyn Johnston (Osage), 19:01; 3. Clare Kelly (Van Meter), 19:05; 4. Mackenzie Wilson (Jesup), 19:14; 5. Hillary Trainor (Sumner-Fredericksburg), 19:19; 6. Mayson Hartley (Clarinda), 19:21; 7. Kinze Shea (Crestwood), 19:28; 8. Campbelle Kolbet (New Hampton), 19:33; 9. Katelyn Krieger (Spirit Lake), 19:37; 10. Julia Mertz (Beckman), 19:45; 11. Zada Buchholtz (Williamsburg), 19:46; 12. McKenna Montgomery (Albia), 19:47; 13. Maryn Frein (Okoboji), 19:48; 14. Katie Young (Unity Christian), 19:50; 15. Emma Althoff (Monticello), 19:51; 16. Abby Fleming (Mid-Prairie), 19:51; 17. Bailey Vos (Unity Christian), 20:02; 18. Emma McCoy (Van Meter), 20:03; 19. Mary Kelly (Van Meter), 20:12; 20. Chloe Judisch (South Central Calhoun), 20:15.

Class 2A Boys results

Teams — 1. Des Moines Christian 75, 2. Okoboji 99, 3. Tipton 120, 4. Waukon 127, 5. Oelwein 138, 6. Mediapolis 191, 7. Pella Christian 209, 8. Denver 224, 9. Garner GHV 226, 10. Unity Christian 234, 11. Danville-New London 245, 12. Clarinda 274, 13. Mid-Prairie 279, 14. Chariton 317, 15. Forest City 329.

Individuals — 1. Aaron Fynaardt (D.M. Christian), 15:50; 2. Caleb Van Pasa (D.M. Christian), 16:06; 3. Evan Osler (Okoboji), 16:18; 4. Charlie Sieck (Starmont-West Central), 16:24; 5. A.J. Bonnesen (Danville-New London), 16:29; 6. Solomon Zaugg (Mediapolis), 16:30; 7. Clay Bohlmann (Tipton), 16:35; 8. Kaden Van Wyngarden (Pella Christian), 16:36; 9. Treyton Schaapherder (Clarinda), 16:42; 10. Chesney Capron (Monticello), 16:42; 11. Conall Sauser (Oelwein), 16:45; 12. Trigg Heimdal (Okoboji), 16:45; 13. Owen Schmidgall (Mediapolis), 16:45; 14. Ty Nichols (Tipton), 16:45; 15. Emerson Vokes (Grundy Center GCGR), 16:46; 16. Mason Maiers (Interstate 35), 16:55; 17. Kyle Wagoner (Clarinda), 16:58; 18. Connor Hammitt (Garner GHV), 17:00; 19. Collin Houg (D.M. Christian), 17:03; 20. Emmett Swartzendruber (Mid-Prairie), 17:05.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com