Two weeks ago, Jonel Rossbach told Emporia State cross country coach Dave Harris that she wanted to run the fastest women’s time ever on the Jones Park course.
On Friday, that goal came true.
The senior didn’t just break the women’s course record at the ESU Invitational, she smashed it, running a 16:55 to break the previous best mark by 27 seconds.
“It’s amazing,” Rossbach said. “I didn’t realize how fast I was going.”
Her competitors did, mostly because they couldn’t see her any more.
Rossbach was at her best despite running nearly the entire race on her own. After setting the pace, the senior didn’t have a competitor close to her for the final two miles, beating the second-place runner by one minute, 16 seconds.
“I went out and thought, ‘If no one runs it with me, I’m just going to push myself,’” Rossbach said.
Getting updates from her coaches and teammates along the course, Rossbach knew she was nearing a special run when she reached the final straightaway and was told she was only at 16 minutes.
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Rossbach said. “It motivated me to kick even harder.”
No women’s runner had ever broken 17 minutes on the course — and none had really come close.
Last year, unattached Kellyn Johnson took the best mark with a time of 17:22. Before that, ESU’s Kadri Kelve had held the record for four years with a time of 17:46.
“You try not to get too high, but that was a great performance by Jonel,” Harris said. “I didn’t think she’d break 17 (minutes) on this course.
“That record may stand for a long time.”
Skyler Delmott made it clean sweep for ESU in the individual championships, as he won the men’s race with a personal-record time of 25:20.
By now, the Emporia High graduate knows Jones Park well.
“I know where my weak spots are in the course, and I didn’t make any wrong turns,” Delmott said with a smile.
Not far behind him was teammate and fellow EHS grad Brock Ternes, who took fourth in a time of 25:53.
The junior competed barefoot, the third time he’s ran that way in a cross country race.
“I’m trying to soak up this weather,” Ternes said. “When it’s cold, I can’t kick the shoes off. To do it, you need a nice course and a nice day.”
Marcus Summers took fifth and Eric Wellman placed ninth, helping ESU to the men’s team title.
The Hornets compiled 23 points, which was 40 better than second-place Truman.
ESU’s women finished second with 76 points, coming in behind Park University (49 points).
Kathryn Davison (16th), Chelsea Clanton (18th), Morgan Frehe (21st) Kylie Bookout (22nd) and Tiffany Baum (23rd) all finished in the top 23 for ESU.
ESU Invitiational
Friday at Jones Park
Men’s ESU Results
1. Delmott, Skyler 25:20.00
4. Ternes, Brock 25:53.00
5. Summers, Marcus 26:01.00
9. Wellman, Eric 26:29.00
12. Kern, Sloane 26:44.00
21. Burns, Cody 27:29.00
25. Hohmeier, William 27:54.00
36. Mason, Kerek 28:48.00
37. Quillin, Daniel 28:50.00
40. Stephens, Michael 29:01.00
Men’s Team Scores
1. Emporia State 23
2. Truman 63
3. Missouri Valley 72
4. Park 102
5. Iowa Western CC 132
6. Haskell 199
7. Kansas Wesleyan 206
8. William Jewell 222
9. Baker 237
10. Bethany 240
Women’s ESU Results
1. #Rossbach, Jonel 16:55.00
16. Davison, Kathryn 19:49.00
18. Clanton, Chelsea 19:51.00
21. Frehe, Morgan 19:53.50
22. Bookout, Kylie 20:08.00
23. Baum, Tiffany 20:14.00
43. Craig, Amy 21:07.00
# — Course Record
Women’s Team Scores
1. Park 49
2. Emporia State 76
3. Truman 92
4. Neb.-Omaha 105
5. Kansas Wesleyan 109
6. Iowa Western CC 185
7. Baker 186
8. Missouri Valley 241
9. St. Mary ( Neb.) 247
10. Cloud County CC 253
11. William Jewell 262
12. Bethany 314
13. Mid-America Naz. 349