Tommy Tyynismaa

ALLEMAN — The South Tama boys’ track and field team guaranteed itself five entrants into next week’s state meet after Thursday’s Class 3A state-qualifying meet hosted by North Polk.

STC senior Tommy Tyynismaa went 4-for-4 in qualifying to lead the Trojans to sixth place out of eight teams. South Tama scored 78 points, while champion North Polk totaled 153.

Tyynismaa qualified in two individual events, winning the 800-meter run in 1 minute, 59.81 seconds, and the 1,600 in 4:32.01. Teammate James Brant also qualfied automatically in the 1,600 by finishing second in 4:34.16.

Tyynismaa also anchored two STC relays to victory. The Trojans’ 4×800 relay team of Brant, Braxten Rohrs, Cade Rosenberger and Tyynismaa held off Boone for the meet title. South Tama finished in 8:11.34, while Boone also qualified in second at 8:11.89.

South Tama assembled a dominant distance medley team as well, dropping 14 seconds off its season-best time as Chase Gustafson, Cody Blocker, Brant and Tyynismaa won the event in 3:40.70.

The South Tama girls’ team totaled 25 points to finish last out of eight teams, with North Polk leading the way at 172.

The Trojan girls did not qualify any events automatically, but eight at-large spots per event are yet to be determined.