TAMA — Grundy Center junior Emerson Vokes navigated the heat and managed his race to come out on top at Monday’s South Tama County Cross Country Invitational at STC High School.

Vokes picked up his second win of the season, crossing the finish line at 16 minutes, 31 seconds. STC’s Barrett Jesina was the runner-up at 17:14.

“I took it a little lighter with the heat and the hills at the end,” Vokes said. “I just went out with the lead group, got a gap and just held on to it for the whole race, eased into it a little bit.”

The Spartans were sixth as a team with 150 points. Jayce Fryslie, a freshman, was 10th in 18:22.

“The summer miles really paid off for him,” Vokes said. “He’s learning a little bit as we go, but i think he’s doing great, he’s gonna keep learning, and he’s gonna be really good.”

Vokes is also leaving something in the tank for Thursday’s Rich Engel Classic in Cedar Falls, where he’ll compete against top-tier runners like Quentin Nauman of Western Dubuque and Jaden Merrick of Cedar Falls. Vokes finished 10 seconds behind Nauman in a meet at Waverly last week.

“There will be some dogs there,” Vokes said. “I just want to go out there and compete with the big guys, know that I belong up there myself.”

For Jesina, it’s a new step forward. He was the only non-senior of the STC squad that qualified for state cross country last year, and he’s now taken on the mantle of team captain as a junior.

“It’s been a big change for me, but every day I get more used to it,” Jesina said. “In a way it feels good to be that leader helping other people.”

Jesina said he’s taken plenty of inspiration from the seniors that led the way last year, including Iowa State recruit Tommy Tyynismaa and Central student James Brant.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned from them is mindset,” Jesina said. “I used to have an alright mindset but now it’s just better, and I’m able to help out with other people. I’ve learned a lot from them.”

Jesina was 48 seconds faster than his time on this course last season.

“The heat really sucked, but overall I can’t ask too much more from the conditions,” Jesina said. “I tried the first couple of miles to take it easy, but as much as you want to conserve yourself, it’s still going to be hard no matter what you do.”

East Marshall had the top area team finish, scoring 128 points for third to finish behind Grinnell (37) and Baxter (87). Austin Pansegrau scored 14th in 19:18 and Chandler Curtis was 16th in 19:21 as the top two finishers for the Mustangs.

West Marshall was fourth with 129 points, led by Erick Rosas-Canchola finishing in 19:30 for 17th, followed five seconds later by Urijah Courter in 18th.

GMG finished eighth with 177 points, Grady Dieleman was just five seconds outside of the top 10 with a final time of 18:27 for 11th, Rider Kupka was 23rd in 20:14.

BCLUW placed ninth with 202 points, led by Cayden White’s fifth-place run in 17:55. Gladbrook-Reinbeck finished 10th with 232 points, paced by Devin Wrider in 26th in 20:28. Meskwaki was 11th with 278 points, Emery Roberts led the Warriors in 32nd in 20:55.

North Tama did not field a full team; Levi Harmsen led the way in 67th in 24:21.

South Tama Invitational

Team Standings — 1. Grinnell 37, 2. Baxter 87, 3. East Marshall 128, 4. West Marshall 129, 5. South Tama County 135, 6. Grundy Center 150, 7. South Hardin 162, 8. GMG 177, 9. BCLUW 202, 10. Gladbrook-Reinbeck 232, 11. Meskwaki 278.

Individual (top 10) — 1. Emerson Vokes, GC, 16:31; 2. Barrett Jesina, STC, 17:14; 3. Cadel Conner, GRN, 17:37; 4. Max Handorf, BAX, 17:45; 5. Cayden White, BCLUW, 17:55; 6. Isaac Sandquist, GRN, 17:56; 7. Liam Crites, GRN, 18:01; 8. Harrison Laug, GRN, 18:14; 9. Matt Richardson, BAX, 18:14; 10. Jayce Fryslie, GC, 18:22.

EAST MARSHALL (128) — 14. Austin Pansegrau 19:18; 16. Chandler Curtis 19:21; 25. Cael Curphy 20:27; 35. Landen Shoeman 21:05; 38. Nathan Frye 21:23; 55. Von Blackburn 23:24; 56. Joe Fuller 23:49.

WEST MARSHALL (129) — 17. Erick Rosas-Canchola 19:30; 18. Urijah Courter 19:35; 29. Heng Wong 20:38; 31. Jacob Eirikson 20:53; 34. Tyler Turner 20:59; 36. Ryan Putney 21:12; 46. Joseph Swigart 22:09.

SOUTH TAMA COUNTY (135) — 2. Jesina 17:14; 22. Jerome Kapayou 20:06; 28. Jovanie Perez 20:36; 39. Brady Jesina 21:25; 44. Britten Brandt 21:44; 53. Rayden Hill 23:11

GRUNDY CENTER (150) — 1. Vokes 16:31; 10. Fryslie 18:22; 30. Brayden Wallis 20:41; 48. Oliver Del Castillo 22:31; 61. Daniel Barkley 26:35; 65. Reid Ahlberg 28:07; 68. Caleb Knutsen 29:34.

GMG (177) — 11. Grady Dieleman 18:27; 23. Rider Kupka 20:14; 37. Brayton Davis 21:19; 47. Henry Dieleman 22:19; 59. Drayson Stephenson 25:04.

BCLUW (202) — 5. White 17:55; 43. Tommy Hinderhofer 21:39; 45. Dominic Severa 21:47; 52. Jacob Castell 23:09; 57. Olin Hupfeld 24:32; 58. Zack Morris 24:55; 62. Tommy Miller 26:36.

GLADBROOK-REINBECK (232) — 26. Devin Wrider 20:28; 33. Caleb Bowser 20:56; 41. Christopher Utterback 21:33; 63. Kaden Kauffman 26:59; 69. Campbell Gramer 33:37.

MESKWAKI (278) — 32. Emery Roberts 20:55; 49. Hagaa Slick-Driscoll 22:46; 64. Hepa Azure 27:32; 66. Tenoch Snow 28:12; 67. Emiliano Durin 28:35; 70. Izik Furcap 33:44.

NORTH TAMA — 67. Levi Harmsen 24:21; 70. Cayd Cooper 24:53.