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In 2008, led by elite middle distance runner Aaron Stockstell, the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys track team earned 69 team points, including individual records by Stockstell in the 200m. 400m and 800m races. Stockstell graduated, heading to Alabama to run for the Crimson Tide, but the Mid-Prairie track team kept a solid core of good runners.
The Golden Hawks return State Track participants Tanner Miller, Cody Bontrager, Justin Hochstetler, Jordan Hochstetler, Quinn Hollan and Tyler Asbe.
"Those six people back from last year's team as far as participants in the state track meet are a good solid core for our team and it's exciting to see what they've done so far in the indoor season as we head into getting ready for the outdoor season," said Coach Hollan of his returning runners.
Miller, Bontrager, and brothers Jordan and Justin Hochstetler were all key members of last season's state meet team. Quinn Hollan and Tyler Asbe watched the event as alternates.
"We had Quinn Hollan and Tyler Asbe as the alternates who didn't run at the state meet but were there to help out," said Coach Hollan. "Tyler and Quinn were instrumental in helping get some of the relays through districts to the state track meet."
Running at ISU
So far this season, the M-P boys have seen some exciting success in the short Iowa indoor track season.
Tanner Miller, running individually in the 60m high hurdles finished third, with a time of 8.52 seconds, out of 106 competitors at the Iowa State University Indoor meet on March 17. During the outdoor season, the high hurdles are increased to a 100m distance, but Miller, who qualified for the state meet last year in this event, can be expected to maintain his quality performances.
The Mid-Prairie boys 4x800m relay team caught some attention, finishing first out of 60 teams at the ISU indoor meet. The team of Tyler Asbe, Quinn Hollan, Justin Hochstetler and Jordan Hochstetler, all 2008 State Cross Country participants, ran a time of 8:16.15 to place first at the meet.
Also performing well at the ISU meet was the Mid-Prairie 1600m medley team (Miller, Bontrager, Hollan and Justin Hochstetler) which clocked a time of 3:44.71 to finish seventh out of 65 teams.
Preparing for 2009
Coach Hollan said that the team's strengths have shifted a bit this season from last.
"We had a great sprinting core and a great middle distance core, 400 and 800 people [last year]," said Coach Hollan. "Our field events were probably a little weak."
"As we go into this season, I see our field events, shot and discus being a little stronger this year than what it had previously been," said Hollan. "We have the possibility of a freshman high jumper Jaemin Powell who hopefully we can develop into somebody who can score for us."
The Golden Hawks are bringing back junior thrower Christian Boehmer who missed state last season, placing third at districts in both the shot and discus.
"Christian Boehmer, was very effective for us last year. He was third in shot and discus and both just inches away from advancing to the state track meet. I know he's working extremely hard with the desire to not see any third place finishes in the district track meet again this year."
New to the M-P throwing corps this season is former soccer goalie Schyler Altenhofen.
"Schyler has been in soccer the past few years and came out to join the track team," said Hollan. "We'll see what he can do throwing the shot put and discus. We welcome him aboard and look forward to working with him as well. Coach Conaway is excited about working with him."
Throwing coach, Coach Conaway, also has been putting some extra time with throwers Josh Patterson and Dillon Flynn.
Patterson is busy after school in extra class work to earn credit towards becoming a CNA, and Flynn has been active this spring with the FFA.
"Both of them are very busy and have attended practice sporadically, but I know coach Conaway has committed time to working with them in the mornings as well," said Coach Hollan.
Last season's Medley Relay team, anchored by Stockstell, clocked the fastest time in the nation at the Iowa State Track meet last season: 3:26.16. This year, without Stockstell, the team still has a good chance to defend their title in that event.
"Last year we were state champs in the medley and I think that's something we can work at and see if we can defend that," said Hollan. "We've been state champs in the medley three years in a row and it's quite a feat for a team to do it four years in a row. Very few teams have won it more than there years in a row."
Hollan said his 4x400m relay team will be strong again this year, but his 4x800m relay team has taken a big step forward.
"Last year we were ok, maybe we were a bit better than average in the 4x800, and this year I look at it as better than average," said Hollan. "Every time we step on the track I would expect some exciting things to happen."
Mid-Prairie's Tanner Miller will be running individually in the 100m and 400m hurdles and Cody Bontrager will be running individually in the 100m and 200m dash.
New this year
There are a number of freshman and a new face transferred from Clear Creek-Amana this season.
"Lorenzo Neuzil ran at Clear Creek-Amana last year, he's hampered a little early on with a hamstring injury. Hopefully he'll pop out of that and help us in the outdoor season," said Coach Hollan.
Freshman, Alex McKey-Crow is working out with the distance runners this season.
"[I'm] Primarily looking at Alex to be a 400/800 guy and this might be a year of understudy. It's pretty hard for a freshman to jump in and be real effective," said Hollan. "Hopefully he'll be able to jump in and help us from time to time and I believe he'll be a good part of the team."
Also key to the M-P state qualifying CC team this fall was distance runner, freshman Peter Schwartz.
"Peter Schwartz comes to us from Pathway. He'll be a good distance runner. He's got an older brother, Colton who ran for us last year."
Both Schwartz brothers will be running in the longer distances, 800-3200, runs.
The Mid-Prairie 2009 track team members are: seniors Jordan Hochstetler and Schylor Altenhofen. Juniors Christian Boehmer, Tanner Miller, Cody Bontrager, Tyler Asbe, Quinn Hollan, Dillon Flynn and Colton Schwartz. Sophomores Justin Hochstetler, Josh Patterson, Lorenzo Neuzil, RJ Bontrager and Alex Thurman. Freshman Alex McKee-Crow, Jaemin Powell, and Peter Schwartz.
