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Rule change increases distance for girls

South Tama’s, Isabelle Tyynismaa focusing her sights uphill as she runs her first 5K of the season at MCC on Thursday, August 28. Tyynismaa came in 11th. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

South Tama began their season on a cloudy and cool Thursday, August 28 on the campus of Marshalltown Community College.

While no one could stop Class 4A number one ranked Urbandale, the Lady Trojans had a strong showing in their first meet of the season.

South Tama’s Isabelle Tyynismaa was the Trojans’ top girls varsity finisher on the night. Tyynissmaa was just shy of the top ten coming in at 11th (22:05).

“Marshalltown’s course is not terribly hilly. There’s a lot of flat sections and then a long finish because you can see the finish line for a long time so that kind of gets to you but I think it was a good way to start off the season,” said Tyynismaa.

The biggest difference from last year is the distance rule change in the girls field. The Board of the Directors of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union voted unanimously to increase the distance of Iowa girls high school cross country meets from 4,000 meters to 5,000 meters. This is the first change in distance for Iowa girls cross country since 2002 when the distance was changed from two miles to 4,000 meters (2.5 miles).

Urbandale took the top seven varsity spots, running as a pack through the entire race. They left an impression on racers and fans alike.

“I really want us to run together more as a varsity team because you see the girls that finish first they are in a pack together and if you can get that mentality of running in a pack you can push each other and stay with each other the whole time and that really improves times,” said Tyynismaa.

In the JV field, Shae Slaven had a strong first race finishing eighth.

South Tama Individual Varsity Results

11 – Isabelle Tyynismaa 22:05, 21 – Allison Yuska 23:36, 32 – Jensen Vodochodsky 24:24, 34 – Mallory Thede 24:31, 40 – Mahala Doyle 24:59, 45 – Kelsie York-Morris 25:40

Team Results

Urbandale 15, 2. Grundy Center 73, 3. Waterloo West 112, 4. Marshalltown 116, 5. Webster City 118, 6. South Tama 138, 7. Ottumwa 142, 8. Waterloo East 236, 9. Belle Plaine 257

South Tama Individual JV Results

8 – Shae Slaven 26:59, 9 – Minnie Climer 28:22, 12 – Stephanie Slaven 28:49, 15 – Megan Mann 30:20, 21 – Lauren Yuska 31:20, 24 – Socorro Mendoza 32:47, 27 – Hannah Keckler 35:51