The Trojans get ready to toe the start line leading up to their 5th place finish as a team at the senior spotlight meet. PHOTO BY AMY BRANT

Coming off of an 11th place state cross country performance as a team, the South Tama boys continued their successful campaign as senior runners Tommy Tyynismaa, James Brant, Cade Rosenburger, Braxten Rohrs, and Holden Schirmer all ran well enough during the course of the season to qualify them to the senior spotlight meet.

This meet is held in Pella and put on by the IATC to recognize and honor seniors who have given a lot to the sport of cross country. This meet brings together the best senior runners from all across the state to compete against each other one last time.

Going into the meet with good competition and nice conditions the Trojan boys were set up perfectly to run a fast race. As the gun went off, seniors Tyynismaa and Brant pushed to the front of the race like they’ve done all season. Meanwhile the other Trojan seniors worked their way up the loaded senior field throughout the race.

In the end, South Tama’s very own Tommy Tyynismaa crossed the finish line in first with a new personal best time of 15:41, adding another win to his impressive high school cross country resume.

Brant finished in 10th place for the Trojans, also with a personal best time of 16:23. Coming in 29th place was Cade Rosenburger with a time of 17:24. Senior Braxten Rohrs finished with a time of 17:44 coming in 38th place. Lastly Holden Schirmer rounded out this impressive performance by South Tama placing 52nd with a time of 18:15.

South Tama’s top two runners, Tommy Tyynismaa and James Brant, warm up before the race. Tyynismaa finished in first place and Brant finished 10th. PHOTO BY AMY BRANT

After the race, Tyynismaa commented on the team and his first place finish.

“We all just wanted to have fun together doing the thing we love and it was a plus that I felt really good that day and decided to push the pace with the front runners, which led me to be the first runner across the line,” he said.

The South Tama boys cross country team will have their last race of the season on Nov. 12, as they head up to Sioux Falls, S.D. for the Nike Cross Regional meet.

The South Tama boys, with smiles on their faces, break it down in preparation for the race. PHOTO BY AMY BRANT