Home turf always comes with its advantages. On a cross-country course as unique and difficult as South Tama’s, it can play a huge role. South Tama junior Tommy Tyynismaa used this advantage and knowledge to plan out his race and take home a victory in the South Tama Invite with a time of 16 minutes, 31.8 seconds — seven seconds ahead of Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Kaden Lynch at 16:38.8.

Tyynismaa was one of three South Tama boys to finish in the top 10 as the Trojans finished second in the team standings with a score of 54 — just eight points behind GCGR’s winning total.

The race was set up well, Tyynismaa said, and he set back, knowing exactly when he was going to make his move.

“The third was pretty much hills the whole time,” Tyynismaa said. “I was just gonna lay back and let the guys work for it for a while, and then once it comes to that last mile, I’m just going to go as hard as I can because I know this course well, and I know I can take these guys on the hills.”

James Brant finished third with a time of 17:19.1 for the Trojans, while junior Braxton Rohrs was ninth after running a 17:54.3. Other notable finishers from the hosts were Barrett Jesina in 20th at 19:05.3 and Cade Rosenberger with a 19:18.6 along with Kaden Kopsa in 24th (19:31.1) and Holden Schrimer in 26th (19:34.5).

Tommy Tyynismaa crosses the finish line in the South Tama County Invitational on Monday, Sept. 12, in Tama. Tyynismaa won the race in a total time of 16 minutes, 31.8 seconds. Photo by Ross Thede.

STC had two runners in the girls’ race — Kayla Heck, who finished in 16th at 24:11.4, and Autumn Elsbury in 31st after a 26:16.3.

Grace Lidgett’s comfortable win in the girls’ race was just the boost her season needed after a start she characterized as not her best. The North Tam senior was ahead early and often and slowly gapped her way ahead of the pack throughout the race, finishing 30 seconds ahead of the next best runner with a time of 21:35.2.

Lidgett said it was a great day on one of her favorite cross-country courses.

“We’ve been training a bunch of hills in practice, so I think we were all really prepared for that,” Lidgett said. “We’re running through trees, and some people don’t like the gravel, but I do for some reason. I think the fact that it’s different makes it fun.”

The Redhawks finished second in the team scores with 60 points, buoyed by a top-10 run from Jamie Jacobs, who finished ninth with a 23:28.2. Olivia Ketter was 17th after a 24:17.4 and Ava Breakenridge came in 18th place with a time of 24:26.3.

Case Monat ran a 22:58.6 and finished 51st in the boys’ race. GCGR had a banner day, winning the boys’ race with a team score of 46 points and the girls’ race with a team score of 47.

The boys were led by Kaden Lynch’s second-place run and a fourth-place finish by Brennen Sager with a 17:23.7. Two more GCGR runners were in the top 10, as Tyler Venenga came in seventh at 17:53.3, and Emerson Vokes finished 10th with a 17:54.3.

Head coach Jay Beichley was thrilled to see both teams come out as winners.

“I am extremely proud, beyond proud of the kids and the work they’re putting in,” Beichley said. “Anything we ask them to do, they’re doing it times 10.”

On the girls’ side, three GCGR runners took top-five spots, led by Grace Storjohann at 22:26.3. She was followed by Laney Dole with a 22:34.9 and Karlee Lynch in 23:01.3. The next-best finisher for GCGR was freshman Kali Aldrich in 13th place after a 23:57 run.

East Marshall’s boys’ team had another strong day at the races, finishing in third place as a team with a 66-team score. Leading the way was Joe Terrones in fifth place with a time of 17:29.9, followed 17 seconds later by Patrick Rayburn in sixth place following a run of 17:46.2. The next pair of runners for the Mustangs were Kaleb Grant and Brock Curtis in 13th and 14th place with times of 18:35.4 and 18:38.3, respectively.

The Mustangs’ girls runners finished seventh out of seven teams at 137. Ava Hendricks was the best finisher for the Mustangs in 30th place with a 25:55. Lucy Liera was in 33rd after running a 26:48.8. BCLUW had a strong run from Abby Kemp, who finished second behind Lidgett with a time of 22:05.4. She was followed by Kalia Stover in sixth-place with a run of 23:12.7.

Head coach Donna Fiscus was thrilled with Kemp and Stover for setting the pace.

“Today, this was great; this is what those two are capable,” Fiscus said. “Ab- by’s just strong — she’s got her sights set on [Lidgett] and was very happy. Now we just want the other girls to get their times down, be- cause we’re looking at the team aspect.”

The BCLUW boys were fifth out of nine teams, with a team score of 157. Leading the way was Cayden McLeland in 17th place with a time of 18:52, followed by Cayden White in 25th place at 19:32.3. Lincoln Stover finished 31st with a 20:20.7.

West Marshall’s girls ran third in the team standings at 88 points on the back of two top-10 finishers in Emelia Hauser and Addie Thompson. Hauser ran a 23:26.4 and finished eighth, while Thompson had a 23:34.6 and was 10th. Peyton Smith finished 23rd after a 25:09.5.

Head coach Cynthia Hilleman was pleased with how the team held its own against solid competition.

“I was really surprised how well Emelia and Addie did. They really pushed it and moved up a lot throughout the race,” Hilleman said. “We got third, so I’m pretty happy with that.”

West Marshall boys finished eighth out of nine teams, with Jacob Erikson the best finisher in 27th place (20:00.6). GMG was ninth in the team standings, and Brayton Davis was the highest finisher in 33rd with a 20:45.2. Grady Dieleman finished in 45th at 22:03.8.

Chloe Dieleman finished 24th for the GMG girls with a time of 25:18.5.

South Tama County Invitational At Tama

GIRLS

Team Standings

1. Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck – 47

2. North Tama – 60

3. West Marshall – 88

4. Grinnell – 98

5. South Hardin 98

6. BCLUW – 121

7. East Marshall – 137

Individual (top 10)

1. Grace Lidgett (NT) – 21:35.2

2. Abby Kemp (BCLUW) – 22:05.4

3. Grace Storjohann (GCGR) – 22:26.3

4. Laney Dole (GCGR) – 22:34.9

5. Karlee Lynch (GCGR) – 23:01.3

6. Kalia Stover (BCLUW) – 23:12.7

7. Olivia Olson (GRN) – 23:21.2

8. Emelia Hauser (WM) – 23:26.4

9. Jamie Jacobs (NT) – 23:28.3

10. Addie Thompson (WM) – 23:34.6

SOUTH TAMA

16. Kayla Heck – 24:11.4

31. Autumn Elsbury – 26:16.3.

BOYS

Team Standings

1. Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck – 46

2. South Tama – 54

3. East Marshall – 66

4. Grinnell – 69

5. BCLUW – 157

6. Baxter – 194

7. South Hardin – 196

8. West Marshall – 201

9. GMG – 234

Individual (top 10)

1. Tommy Tyynismaa (STC) – 16:31.8

2. Kaden Lynch (GCGR) – 16:38.8

3. James Brant (STC) – 17:19.1

4. Brennen Sager (GCGR) – 17:23.7

5. Joe Terrones (EM) – 17:29.9

6. Patrick Rayburn (EM) – 17:46.2

7. Tyler Venenga (GCGR) – 17:53.3

8. Jonas Conner (GRN) – 17:53.5

9. Braxten Rohrs (STC) – 17:54.3

10. Emerson Vokes (GCGR) – 17:54.3

SOUTH TAMA (54)

1. Tyynismaa – 16:31.8

3. Brant – 17:19.1

9. Rohrs – 17:54.3

20. Barrett Jesina- 19:05.3

21. Cade Rosenberger – 19:18.6

24. Kaden Kopsa – 19:31.1

26. Holden Schirmer – 19:34.5.