NEWS-CHRONICLE PHOTOS BY JONATHAN MEYER - After making a steady comeback and overtaking Des Moines Christian’s Collin Houg, South Tama’s Tommy Tyynismaa (4) guts it out and heads for the finish line in the 1,600-meter run on April 15 at the Eastern Iowa Track and Field Festival hosted by Iowa City West.

South Tama County junior Tommy Tyynismaa is no stranger to large stages after finishing in third place in the 800 meters at the 2022 Iowa High School Co-Ed State Track and Field Championships and going 5-for-5 on qualifying opportunities for the state meet in cross country and track.

Tyynismaa has earned his spot on the starting line for the 113th Drake Relays in the boys 800 and 1,600. The 800 is scheduled to run at 1:48 p.m. on Friday afternoon; Tyynismaa is seeded 10th out of 16 in the event with a season-best time of 1 minute, 57.55 seconds, achieved at the Dickinson Relays in Cedar Falls on March 7.

He will then compete in the 1,600 at 4:47 p.m. on Saturday, where he is seeded 13th with a time of 4:22.07 from an April 15 meet in Iowa City.

Tyynismaa is ready to compete and hungry to improve his personal bests at the event.

“My goal is to crack the top-10 in both events and set personal records,” said an ambitious and eager Tyynismaa.