Maybe calling it a home meet doesn’t do it justice.
Today’s Emporia State Jock’s Nitch Invitational is more like a backyard run for three Emporia High products, who will have the luxury of having grown up with Jones Park Course.
Skyler Delmott, Brock Ternes and Shea Camien all will participate for ESU in the 5 p.m. meet, which is the only home event of the year for both the men’s and women’s cross country teams.
“We’ve run over there a lot, and I ran there at high school,” Delmott said, “so I should have an advantage over some people.”
ESU coach Dave Harris said it was a rarity for his squad to have so many from Emporians on the roster. Even rarer, though, was having the talent he does with the three former Spartans.
“It’s kind of unique,” Harris said. “We’ve never had anything like this where three guys that are just making a huge impact.”
The home event has been two years in the making for the men’s squad. Because of a lack of numbers, ESU did not field a men’s cross country team last season. Each individual that wanted to participate took a redshirt and waited for this season.
“Not running last year has given this team a certain hungriness,” Harris said, “to get out there and run college cross country.”
The meet will showcase 15 different teams from around the area, including Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State and Truman from the MIAA.
The conference foes should provide ample competition for Jonel Rossbach, who has been the top runner for the ESU women this season.
Pittsburg State and Fort Hays State both bring nationally-ranked women’s squads to the invite.
“They’re some of top runners in the conference,” Harris said. “We’re going to have a race (today). It’s going to be exciting.”
Rossbach finished third in the Jock’s Nitch Invitational a year ago.
“I’d say it’s one of the meets I look forward to every season,” Rossbach said. “Everyone’s going to be there and everybody’s going to be cheering you on.”
Krysta Fennewald enters as the women’s No. 2 runner.
On the men’s side, Delmott has been the most consistent performer. His time of 27:08.50 earned 26th place in a field of 291 runners at the Woody Greeno Invite two weeks ago in Lincoln, Neb.
He said he expected a lot out of himself in the familiar environment.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Delmott said. “I know a lot of people have told me they’re going to come watch me run. It’s kind of also putting some pressure on, too.”
With an injury keeping junior Eric Wellman out, the ESU men’s team consists of all freshmen and sophomores.
Sophomore Marcus Summers (Fairview, Kan.) has been a consistent second runner for the Hornets, followed by Ternes, Camien and Michael Stephens (Lee’s Summit, Mo.).
The women’s 5K will start at 5 p.m., with the men’s 8K following at approximately 5:30.
Harris said he wouldn’t be surprised if there was a big showing in the Emporia trio’s backyard.
“I’m sure,” Harris said, “they’re going to have a lot of people yelling their names out to them.”