Emporia State’s Jonel Rossbach finished fourth at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships in Joplin, Mo., on Saturday, earning All-American honors for the second consecutive season.
Rossbach finished the 6-kilometer race in 20 minutes, 47.5 seconds, and her fourth-place showing tied the best-ever finish by an ESU woman at a cross country national championship.
Lesha Wood finished fourth in the 1980 NAIA Nationals.
“Great race for Jonel,” ESU coach Dave Harris said. “She put herself in position in third place throughout the race. ... She earned everything she has achieved in cross country by hard work and consistent training in the off season.”
Rossbach actually held third place until the very end, but Adams State’s Tanya Gaurmer passed Rossbach with less than 200 meters to go.
Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler and Abilene Christian’s Winrose Karunde finished first and second, respectively.
Karunde edged out Rossbach by a half-second two weeks earlier to take the Regional Championship.
Rossbach was the highest finisher from a school that did not figure in the team scoring.
The result gave the senior her fourth All-American honor. Last year, she earned the status in cross country and also indoor and outdoor track and field.