Members of the STC boys cross country team huddle up before the start of Tuesday’s race in Grinnell. PHOTO BY AMY BRANT

GRINNELL — South Tama County cross country comes into this season with high hopes and a chip on their shoulder. The Trojan boys cross country team missed out on state by two points last year. This time around, the boys and girls look to get off to a hot start and duplicate the success of last year this season.

To start off the season, the Trojans took a trip to Williamsburg last Tuesday, where the STC boys took second place as a team. Leading the team was senior Tommy Tyynismaa, who clocked in a time of 16 minutes, 59.7 seconds for first place. Not far behind was senior James Brant who took second place with a time of 17 minutes, 30.1 seconds.

Barrett Jesina was the next Trojan to cross the finish line in 18 minutes, 53.6 seconds placing 15th. Coming in 19th place was Holden Schirmer with a time of 19 minutes 01.1 seconds. Cade Rosenburger rounded out the team scoring in 29th with a time of 19 minutes, 33.8 seconds.

On the girls side, senior Kayla Heck placed 23rd with a respectable time of 24 minutes, 51.3 seconds. Coming in next was senior Andrea Padilla with a time of 31 minutes, 37.8 seconds and Jenny Manzo with a time of 32:31.69 to cap off the girls team on this day.

Exactly one week later, this Tuesday, the Trojans woke up bright and early to run in the competitive Grinnell Invitational. The meet had been pushed forward to the morning because of the heat expected to come in the afternoon.

Runners race from the starting blocks during Tuesday morning’s meet in Grinnell. PHOTO BY AMY BRANT

Once again, Tommy Tyynismaa was the first finisher in this meet for the Trojan boys, coming in third in an improving time of 16 minutes, 31.4 seconds. James Brant followed behind with a seventh place finish in a time of 17 minutes, 31.7 seconds.

Barrett Jesina ran a time of 18 minutes, 28.7 seconds placing 19th. Cade Rosenburger was STC’s fourth runner in this race placing 24th with a time of 18 minutes, 47.9 seconds. Finally, to round out scoring for the Trojans, Holden Schirmer finished 35th with a time of 19 minutes, 14.3 seconds. The Trojan boys took second place as a team again, falling to the #1 ranked Pella Dutch boys.

Kayla Heck came in first for the STC girls running a time of 25 minutes, 26.5 seconds placing her 32nd. Andrea Padilla and Jenny Manzo both posted improving results to help boost the Trojan girls.