Marie Hostetler has made her college decision and will be taking her talents to Liberty University to continue her cross country and track career. 

The large Christian college in Lynchburg, Va., was one of three schools in the decision-making process for Hostetler, with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University schools that also had interest.  

She said her Christian faith played a big part in the decision, leading to announcing her verbal commitment to the program this week. 

“I definitely think (faith) played into it a lot,” Hostetler said. “It is important to go to a Christian college and to be able to do that at a high level of running. I think it is really cool that I get to do what I wanted to do.”

Her recruitment to Liberty started with an Iowa connection. Isaac Wendland, an assistant with the Liberty University cross country team, was born in Charles City, Iowa, and is a member of the Iowa Track and Field Hall of Fame for his decorated high school career. 

Wendland called Mark Hostetler, Marie’s dad, to test the waters and set up a visit with Marie. Liberty was the first of the three serious contenders for Marie, and one that offered a full scholarship. In NCAA Division I running, 18 scholarships are split between the women’s cross country and track and field teams.

The University of Iowa, where her sister Anna runs, and Iowa State University were also in the mix for her final decision. 

“It was complicated and stressful for Marie to tell Iowa and Iowa State no because they’re both really good programs,” Mark Hostetler said. 

Mark said that originally Marie had planned to wait until after the cross country season to make a final decision, but part of the recruiting process sped that up. 

In the end, she said the pitch Liberty coaches made stuck with her. 

“I think the whole atmosphere of running for something bigger than yourself and coaches that push you to do that (is important),” Marie said. 

When she called to tell them about her decision, she said the reaction from their coaching staff was ecstatic. 

“I think it was a little bit of an answered prayer for them, which makes me feel really good about that,” she said. 

Hostetler, a homeschooled student that competes with Mid-Prairie for athletics, is one of the most decorated athletes in Golden Hawk history. The past two seasons she has won the Class 2A individual state cross country title and run the fastest state time of any classes. Her track accolades include multiple state titles, a Drake Relays title, Gatorade Runner of the Year and helping her team to back-to-back team titles. 

The Flames have contended at the top of their conference in recent years. As part of the Big South, they won women’s conference titles in the 2010s. In their first year as Atlantic Sun members last season, they placed second at the conference meet. 

Mark Hostetler said what makes him excited about the program is their history of developing runners over their career. 

Marie will officially commit with a letter of intent in November.