FORT DODGE

For Mid-Prairie the outcome was familiar, but also unfamiliar. 

On a cold windy day Emmett Swartzentruber heated up quickly and made Mid-Prairie school history. Competing in the third state meet of his high school career, Swartzentruber captured his first 2A individual cross-country state championship by placing first with a new personal best time of 15:51. 

“I was so excited. I just couldn’t believe it,” Swartzentruber said about placing first at state. “I did not think I would be here. Not this year. Possibly not even next year. I just was not expecting this. It feels great.” 

This makes it eight years in a row Mid-Prairie has had an individual cross-country state champion, the previous seven titles being won by a Golden Hawk girl. 

With this win Swartzentruber added a new page to the school history books, becoming the first Golden Hawk boy to win an individual state championship. 

“I’m feeling so proud of Emmett. He was not on anybody’s radar to win today except ours,” Mid-Prairie coach Jeremy Meyers said. “I was talking to him earlier this week, and he said he was feeling good, and that was his goal coming in. It was to try and win the race and I told him, “Go for it. You got nothing to lose.” Either win or crash trying.”

Swartzentruber has been impressive in the meets leading up to state, taking first in a conference meet and the state qualifiers meet and his ranking coming into the state meet, No. 3 in Class 2A, reflected how well he has been performing as of late. 

“I felt pretty good going into the race,” Swartzentruber said. “Warming up and getting ready at the start line. My morale dropped a little bit because I was like, “All right, it’s pretty freezing out here.” and we were in a little bit of a rush, a little stressed. But as soon as that gun went off, I was just back into race mode, and I just gave it all I got.” 

After one mile, Swartzentruber found himself in 18th place. After two miles, he found himself in the lead with no one else in front of him.

“In the first mile, I was back a ways and I just slowly started working my way up there to try to get as many guys I can,” Swartzentruber said. “The second mile I was just like those top five, I believe. And I was like, “All right, it’s time to take this, let’s go.” So, I took the lead, and I just held it. Just held it as long as I could, and I said a little prayer and kept going and it’s crazy.”

It was a close race coming into the final stretch, but Swartzentruber reached the finish line before anyone else, claiming a state title and emphatically pumping his fist in celebration. A shocking outcome to spectators and runners alike. 

“When he finished. Some of the guys that he beat turned around to the other guys and asked who Emmett was because they didn’t know,” coach Meyers said. 

Completing the course just two seconds after Swartzentruber was Denver senior Neal Pinter. Pinter was ranked No. 5 and Okoboji junior Evan Osler, ranked No. 2, placed third in 15:55.  

As a team the Golden Hawks placed 10th, an improvement from their 13th place finish a year prior. Preston Yutzy for the second year in a row gave Mid-Prairie its second top performance, placing 39th in 17:06. Jayse Yoder rounded out the top three Mid-Prairie finishes by placing 86th in 17:57. 

Sophomore Jesse Stultz and senior Jacob Donaldson set new PRs at state with times of 18:16 and 18:51 respectively.  

Mid-Prairie ends its cross-country season on a historic note and judging by the roar of the crowd when Swartzentruber held his individual state championship trophy up high during the award ceremony it’s a finish they won’t forget anytime soon. 

“I would say he knew what it took to win, but I don’t think he knew,” coach Meyers said about Swartzentruber. “I think he just put in as much work as he possibly could, hoping it was going to be enough and it was.”  

Results

1. Emmett Swartzentruber, Mid-Priaire, 15:51

39. Preston Yutzy, Mid-Prairie, 17:06

86. Jayse Yoder, Mid-Prairie, 17:57

95. Max Swartzentruber, Mid-Prairie, 18:03

100. Jesse Stultz, Mid-Prairie, 18:16

114. Daniel Rodgers, Mid-Prairie, 18:39

116. Jacob Donaldson, Mid-Prairie, 18:51