PHOTO BY AMY BRANT — Members of the STC Boys Cross Country team pose for a photo at the Nike Cross Nationals in Sioux Falls. Tommy Tyynismaa, far right, ran in the individual championship race.

SIOUX FALLS, SD — Sioux Falls, S.D. was the final destination for the Trojan boys cross country team in their historic 2023 season. Nike Cross Nationals is an event put on every year where multiple Midwestern state teams compete in a loaded field of runners. The best of the best from the states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas all come together to make up this meet. The Trojan boys were set and ready to go as they toed the line on a cool Sunday morning, looking to run their best.

James Brant came across the line first for the Trojans in this first open race, placing 12th with a time of 16:22. Cade Rosenburger was South Tama’s second runner on the day, placing 61st with a time of 17:05. Next to cross the line was Braxten Rohrs with a time of 17:28 placing 96th overall. Sophomore Barrett Jesina placed 114th with a time of 17:45. Lastly for the Trojans was Holden Schirmer with a time of 17:50 placing him 124th. The STC boys placed 9th as a team in this open race out of this 39 team field.

Later in the day, senior Tommy Tyynismaa toed the line for his race. Tyynismaa qualified for the championship race individually where he will run against the best runners from multiple different states. In the end Tyynismaa finished with an impressive time of 15:44, placing him 63rd out of 200 runners. South Tama ended this day with several personal records and great placements as they capped off their historic 2023 cross country season.