PHOTO COURTESY OF D3 MEDIA.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — Wartburg Track and Field Athlete and STC Alum Jojo Tyynismaa has added a top three finish in the nation to her illustrious track career.

The Division III Track and Field Championships were held from May 23-25 with athletes from all over the country gathering to race and compete against the best of the best. Over the course of the three day meet Tyynismaa made appearances in the 100 meter hurdles, 400 hurdles, and 4×400 meter relay.

The 4×400 did not escape the preliminary round after complications with hand offs and other factors caused the Knights to be disqualified.

In the 100 hurdles, Tyynismaa finished 9th in the preliminaries and being the first athlete out, and did not qualify for the finals. The margin between her and the next fastest athlete who qualified for finals was only four hundredths of a second.

She did advance out of the 400 meter hurdle preliminary round being seeded fifth going into the finals on Saturday.

Saturday Finals

With no other races on Saturday, Tyynismaa was focused and ready to compete in her signature event. As a senior at STC, Tyynismaa won the 3A state championship in the 400 hurdles and two years almost to the exact day, she was lined up in the Division III finals in the very same event.

After the gun went off Tyynismaa had a fair start, rounding the first curve she held great form and found herself midpack. Coming off the second turn into the homestretch Tyynismaa began to move, with great power she positioned herself in the front as other athletes faded behind her. Coming off the 10th and final hurdle Tyynismaa held on to achieve a 3rd place finish in a PR time of 59.56. Her third place finish was the highest placing of all the Wartburg Women competing at the meet.

With her Sophomore year completed, the talented Trojan alum will return home with another All-American trophy to add to her growing collection.