MARSHALLTOWN — The STC cross country program got their season underway on Thursday, Aug. 27, when they participated in the annual Bobcat Early Bird meet in Marshalltown.

Head coach Edgar Tapia traveled the 20 miles west to the campus of Marshalltown Community College and entered seven runners into the boys varsity race. The Trojans secured two top-25 finishes when sophomore Max Schirmer (18:47) and junior Brady Jesina (19:22) finished 18th and 23rd respectively. Junior Henri Martinez-Alvarado (28th, 20:14); sophomore Kyler Johnson-Whitefish (31st, 20:21); sophomore Nolan Arp (50th, 22:17); sophomore Riley Stubbs (55th, 23:08); and senior Lane Feisel (65th, 26:18) rounded out the finishes for STC. The performance was enough to finish in 6th place as a team out of 10 teams in the field. Marshalltown senior Preston Johnson (16:29) won the race and Pella Christian won the team title.

On the girls’ side, STC entered two runners in the varsity race. Senior Livia Smith (30:09) finished in 69th place, while freshman Katelynne Brant (30:10) finished right behind Smith in 70th place.

The Trojans will travel to Grinnell on Tuesday, Sept. 8, to run at the Grinnell XC Invite. Following that, STC will host their annual home Co-Ed Invitational on Monday, Sept. 14, at the STC high school campus.