NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO Senior Braxten Rohrs competes in the loaded 4x800 meter relay field at the district meet. In the end, the Trojans finished first with a time of 8:11.34.

ALLEMAN — The postseason is finally here for the South Tama track and field team as they took a road trip to North Polk high school for their Class 3A state qualifying meet last Thursday. All the tough practices and meets have all led up to this as it is either qualify for state or the end of the season for the Trojan athletes. With the nice weather and roster full of events, the Trojans looked to put down some fast times in hopes to be competing again next week at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

First event up was the 3200 meter run as the South Tama duo of senior Holden Schirmer and sophomore Barrett Jesina were able to score valuable team points. Schirmer placed third overall with a new personal best time of 10:25.20, while Jesina placed seventh with a time of 11:09.47. Senior Travis Cecak was also able to rack up some points for the Trojans as Cecak placed sixth in the 400 meter dash with a time of 53.88 and eighth in the 200 meter dash with a 23.88.

Later in the night, senior Tommy Tyynismaa was able to capture two gold medals in his events. In the 800 meter dash, Tyynismaa ran a time of 1:59.81 to get the win as teammate Cade Rosenberger followed close behind in fourth with a 2:06.14. Then in the 1600 meter dash, Tyynismaa secured the win with a time of 4:32.01 with senior James Brant placing second with a time of 4:34.16.

South Tama found most of their success in the relays during the meet. The Trojan 4×800 squad of Brant, Rohrs, Rosenberger, and Tyynismaa placed first overall against tough competition with a time of 8:11.34. Next in the distance medley relay, the Trojan team of Gustafson, Blocker, Brant, and Tyynismaa was able to finish in first with a combined time of 3:40.70. Finally in the 4×100 meter relay, the sprinting team of Gustafson, Blocker, Clegg, and Upah finished in 5th with a time of 45.38.

In the field events, junior Tyrus Clegg placed sixth in the long jump with a jump of 19.01 feet, and senior Jeramy Dolash finished close behind in ninth with a jump of 18.01 feet.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO South Tama seniors Tommy Tyynismaa and James Brant run side by side in the 1600 meter dash, the Trojan duo would finish 1-2 overall both qualifying to the state meet.

Overall, STC was able to qualify two relays and two individuals to the Iowa high school state championship meet next week. The 4×800 meter relay and distance medley relay both qualified with their impressive victories on this day.

Tyynismaa also qualified individually in the 800 and 1600 meter races with Brant also qualifying in the 1600. South Tama will be competing all three days at state, starting on May 16 as the 4×800 team takes to the track with big aspirations in mind.