Sophomore Tommy Tyynismaa captured a fourth place finish at the South Tama cross country meet in Tama on Monday. Tyynismaa came in at 17:54.9 with classmate James Brant right behind in sixth place at 18:03.6. The Trojans also got contributions from Clayton Graff and Braxten Rohrs who both finished in the top 25. -- Photo by Noah Rohlfing

South Tama hosted their annual cross country invitational meet earlier this week throughout the Tama school campus.

Teams in attendance included Baxter, BCLUW, Colo-NESCO, Dike-New Hartford, East Marshall, GMG, Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Marion, Meskwaki, North Tama, South Hardin, South Tama and West Marshall.

“This is kind of a mystical, magical course,” East Marshall Coach Trent Taylor said. “I don’t know what it is about it but it’s challenging and kids get a little bit deflated when they see their times, but they have to understand that this course takes a lot out of them.”

The girls race was won by Grace Lidgett of North Tama with a time of 20:35.9 while the team title went to Marion.

South Tama and Meskwaki girls didn’t place but ran individual runners. JoJo Tyynismaa finished in sixth place after finishing strong with a time of 21:58.9. Mary Kate Frakes finished 17th in 23:35.4.

JoJo Tyynismaa was the top finisher for the South Tama girls cross country team at their home invite on Sept. 13. Tyynismaa finished sixth with a time of 21:58.9. -- Photo by Noah Rohlfing

Meskwaki had a good day with Shye Johnson and Wakinyela Bear, as the duo finished in 15th and 16th place, respectively, with times of 23:15 and 23:33.4.

Meskwaki coach Tracy Sienknecht was very pleased with where the duo’s times were at this early in the season.

“They’re gonna come out alright,” Sienknecht said. “Both finished in the top 20. They’re working towards getting further down in their times, their times aren’t too far off from where they were last race. They’re gonna be okay.”

The boys side was also dominated by Marion runners with the top place going to Jedidiah Osgood with a time of 16:22.9. The Marion boys also took the team championship with a score of 36.

South Tama finished third in the standings with 79 points. Tommy Tyynismaa finished in a strong fourth place (17:54.9) to lead the way for the Trojans, with James Brant close behind in sixth place after finishing in 18:03.6. Clayton Graff came home in 18th place for the Trojans to back up the two team leaders, while Braxten Rohrs ran a 19:56.9 and finished 22nd.

Mary Kate Frakes, STC 10th Grade -- Photo by Deanna Zmolek

Trojans head coach Robert Tyynismaa said the duo of Tommy and Brant is full of potential this season.

“Both of them have been running really well, they’ve been running tight together,” Robert said. “We’re hoping that they can work together and we can get booths of those boys to qualify for state.”

For the Warriors, Zayton Weninger-Brown finished in 28th place and ran a 20:23.4.

Both the Trojans and the Warriors will next run at BCLUW on Sept. 18.

James Brant, STC 10th Grade -- Photo by Deanna Zmolek