South Tama’s Blake Keller keeps a healthy distance ahead of his competition while running at the Vinton Viking Invite on Tuesday, September 22. Keller took first at the Invite. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

The JV and Varsity Cross Country teams travelled to Vinton for the Vinton Viking Invite on Tuesday, September 22. Vinton-Shellsburg hosted the event at Rodger’s Park. The weather was overcast with temperatures reaching 81 degrees and a south-southeast wind of 5-10 mph.

The course was a true testament to the cross country atmosphere. The runners ran on grass, gravel and dirt. Rodger’s Park, which was in the countryside of Vinton, was scenic with a small pond in the center and several hills including one monstrous hill with a 150-meter elevation change. There were also numerous twists and turns.

“It starts out really nice and flat there are some small hills around the mile and a half mark but you turn and there is 100-150 meters of straight up hill,” said senior runner Blake Keller of the course.

Earning medals for the Trojans were Keller who took his first place (his first of the season) and Hunter Filloon who finished 10th. For the girls Isabelle Tyynismaa finished fourth.

Keller led the entire race by a good distance and finished nearly 20 seconds ahead of Jonah Blix of Vinton who came in at 17:54.

The South Tama Girls Varsity team shares a laugh before the start of the race at the Vinton Viking Invite on Tuesday, September 22. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

“It felt pretty good, my legs weren’t as fresh as they normally are but that wasn’t much of a factor in this race,” said Keller.

Keller who narrowly missed qualifying for state last year has his sights set on just that for his senior year.

“I think it’s coming along and my time is all right. It’s a pretty tough course so I am pretty satisfied with my time and I think I can get a lot faster throughout the season,” said Keller.

Vinton swept the night earning first place in both boys and girls varsity. South Tama took fourth as a team in girls varsity and sixth in boys varsity.

“We ran Ok, not great, but Ok”, said coach George Kuhter, “I am pleased with our top end people on the varsity teams but some of the others are going to have to find the strength to step up. We have a lot to do this week and there may be a few shakeups in the lineup to correspond with our attitude and work ethic the next two weeks in practice.”

South Tama’s Blake Keller, Hunter Filloon and Isabelle Tyynismaa earned medals after finishing 1st, 10th and 4th at the Vinton Viking invite on Tuesday, September 22. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

Varsity team results: Boys: 1. Vinton , 2. Benton , 3. West Delaware , 4. Independence , 5. Durant, 6. South Tama, 7. Columbus Catholic, 8. Union; Girls: 1. Vinton, 2. Benton, 3. Durant, 4. South Tama, 5. West Delaware

STC Varsity Boys results (Vinton): 1 – Blake Keller 17:35, 10 – Hunter Filloon 18:53, 40 – Jake Wilkerson 22:45, 42 – Nick Jordan 22:51, 47 – Jeremy Rosario 24:48

STC Varsity Girls results (Vinton): 4 – Isabelle Tyynismaa 21:31, 14 – Jensen Vodochodsky 23:48, 16 – Allison Yuska 23:55, 24 – Kelsie York-Morris 25:02, 28 – Marisol Mora 25:35, 30 – Shae Slaven 25:47, 31 – Mallory Thede 26:28

STC JV Girls results (Vinton): 14 – Minnie Climer 27:17, 17 – Lauren Yuska 27:55, 18 – Stephanie Slaven 27:57, 21 – Megan Mann 29:44, 23 – Socorro Mendoza 30:20, 25 – Veronika Mysuyk 31:49, 27 – Hannah Keckler 36:56

The Trojans also competed last weekend at the South Hardin Rec Complex in Union. The girls varsity team finished sixth and boys varsity finished seventh

STC Varsity Girls results (BCLUW): 6 – Isabelle Tyynismaa 21:28, 24 – Allison Yuska 23:43, Mahala Doyle 23:59, 29 – Mallory Thede 24:20, 30 – Jensen Vodochodsky 24:49, 31 – Kelsie York-Morris 24:32, 37 – Shae Slaven 25:02

STC Varsity boys results (BCLUW): 4 – Blake Keller 17:29, 13 – Hunter Filloon 18:26, 46 – Daniel Mendoza 22:14, 47 – Jake Wilkerson 22:16, 51 – Nick Jordan 23:14, 54 – Jeremy Rosario 24:59

STC JV girls results (BCLUW): 9 – Marisol Mora 25:41, 14 – Stephanie Slaven 26:30, 17 – Minnie Climer 27:31, 22 – Megan Mann 29:18, 24 – Socorro Mendoza 29:23, 26 – Lauren Yuska 30:43, 28 – Veronika Mysuyk 33:45