SOLON, Iowa - Marie Hostetler became used to finishing behind big sister Anna Hostelter in 2016. Now, the younger runner is trying to become comfortable with beating her older sibling.
For the third race in a row, Marie topped Anna, this time at Monday's Solon Invitational. A year ago, the pair went 1-2 in every single meet over the course of the season -- outside of regionals -- with Anna finishing first and Marie second.
On Monday, Marie ran the course in 18:12. Anna finished in 19:10. North Scott's Presley Case took third in 19:46.
North Scott captured the team title with 39, edging out Mid-Prairie (42). Host Solon took third (90) and Williamsburg (104) was fourth.
Marie led the race from start to finish as Anna, the defending state champion, tried to hang on with her for much of the race. Little sister never let up.
"Definitely it's bittersweet," Marie said. "She's good about it even though it's tough for her. She's having some problems."
Anna wasn't making excuses. If she's was running, she expected to win.
"I guess sometime you don't always have the best race. Sometimes you're not always happy. You just have to realize you praise God when you win and you praise God when you lose," she said.
Case new she was up against it running with the Hostetlers. She was pleased with her race.
"I remember last year I got out way too fast and they were around me and they passed me pretty fast," she said. "I tried to stay as close as I could to them so I could push my time."
North Scott's Sommer Clydesdale finished fourth (20:05) with Mid-Prairie's Ana Fleming (20:23) and Camille Mac (20:28) of Iowa City Liberty coming in fifth and sixth respectively.
Click HERE for videos and HERE photos from the race.