South Tama’s Hunter Filloon and Grinnell’s Joe Simon battle it out to the finish line both finishing at 18:18 at the annual STC Otter Creek Invite on Monday, September 14. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

Mother Nature provided a beautiful evening for the annual STC Cross Country Invitational on Monday, September 14. The Trojans hosted several area teams for the event held at Otter Creek Lake and Park.

The course runs along the banks of Otter Creek Lake, weaves in and out of trees with some fairly technical hills in the early miles.

The Grinnell Tigers who took the top team spots for both varsity girls and boys heavily dominated the evening.

East Marshall’s Haley Frye finished first in girls varsity while setting a new course record at 20:29.

Top finishers for the Trojans included Blake Keller and Belle Tyynismaa. Keller came in sixth at 17:41 while Tyynismaa finished just shy of her personal best at 21:33 taking fifth place overall.

South Tama junior, Jensen Vodochodsky, finishes 19th at the STC?Otter Creek Invitational on Monday, September 14. Vodochosky’s finish time was 23:45. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

As a team the Lady Trojans came in fifth place. STC Girls Varsity Results: 5 – Belle Tyynismaa 21:33; 19 – Jensen Vodochodsky 23:45; 21 – Allison Yuska 24:12; 25 – Mallory Thede 24:49; 27 – Shae Slaven 25:03; 29 – Mahala Doyle 25:21; 32 – Kelsie York-Morris 27:18

The boys varsity team also finished fifth. STC Boys Varsity Results: 6 – Blake Keller 17:41; 10 – Hunter Filloon 18:18; 36 – Daniel Mendoza 22:46; 40 – Nick Jordan 23:52; 42 – Jake Wilkerson 24:52; 43 – Jeremy Rosario 25:43

In JV action the STC girls finished third. STC JV girls results: 11 – Marisol Mora-Martinez 27:48, 12 – Stephanie Slaven 27:58; 16 – Lauren Yuska 28:49; 17 – Megan Mann 30:01; 18 – Minnie Climer 30:16; 19 – Socorro Mendoza 32:13; 20 – Veronica Mysuyk 34:14

South Tama eighth grader Callie Frakes took first place leading the Trojans to a second place team finish. Other middle school results include: 11 – Alyssa Chyma 11:21; 12 – Shelby Slaven 11:28; 14 – Tylese Rosenberger 13:07; 17 – Mariah Horighauser 16:24

Two STC middle school boys ran as well. Turin Lasley finished third and Ethan Babinat finished in 20th place.

Reflecting on his team’s early progress STC head coach George Kuhter stated, “I think that we did an outstanding job at Marshalltown and had two mediocre performances as a team at either end. Some of our kids are getting more consistent with their performances while others are letting things get in their way of success. If we can get consistent in our performances, we might be a team to watch come time for districts but, right now we have to keep working. The efforts of Isabelle and Blake are outstanding and I am very pleased with Hunter and Daniel while they come into their own as far as racing.”

“The middle school kids continue to train and run well. Callie has a ton of experience and continues to run well but, we are very pleased with everyone else on the team. The key is to get and keep out a large number of middle school kids. This is a hard sport and it does not get a ton of recognition but it is well worth the effort.”

The Trojans ran last week at two events including the Grinnell Invite on September 8 and the Bobcat Invitation at MCC on September 10.

Girls Varsity results from Grinnell: 8 – Tyynismaa 21:32, 47 – Yuska 24:23, 54 – Vodochodsky 24:57, 56 – Doyle 25:03, 65 – Thede 25:56, 72 – Slaven 26:28, 77 – York-Morris 26:52 Team finish 10th place

Boys Varsity results from Grinnell: 6 – Keller 17:25, 27 – Filloon 18:52, 85 – Mendoza 24:01, Jordan 24:27, 92 – Rosario 25:32 Team finish: 11th place

Girls Varsity results from Bobcat Invite: 56 – Tyynismaa 21:19, 84 – Vodochodsky 23:00, 86 – Yuska 23:11, 94 – Doyle 23:42, 103 – 24:01, 111 – Slaven 25:19 Team finish:15th

Boys Varsity results from Bobcat Invite: 82 – Keller 18:19