ESU sending 8 athletes to indoor Nationals
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The Emporia State indoor track and field team will be sending eight athletes to the Division II National Track and Field Championships on March 14-15 in Mankato, Minn. The combined eight athletes are the most sent by any MIAA school this year.
ESU will be led by Jonel Rossbach, who enters with the nation’s best time in the 5,000-meter run. Her time of 16:54.12 is more than four seconds better than Abilene Christian’s Winrose Karunde, who is No. 2 heading into the meet.
Karunde defeated Rossbach in both Regionals and Nationals during cross country season.
Though Rossbach also qualified in other events, she only will participate in the 5,000-meter run.
The Hornets have three athletes who could make a run at a National Championship in the men’s high jump.
Craig Saalfeld comes in with the second-best mark in the nation, while Dustin Andrews comes in third. Alex Pyle is right behind Andrews in fourth.
Kenton Lonberger and Brooke Kent will participate in a pair of events. Lonberger is ranked fourth in the 60-meter dash and 10th in the 200-meter run, while Kent is sixth in the long jump and 18th in the 60.
Josh Honeycutt (triple jump) and Jennifer Robinson (high jump) are the other Hornets who will compete at Nationals.
ESU Event Qualifiers
Men 60-Meter Dash
10. Kenton Lonberger 6.81
Men 200-Meter Dash
4. Kenton Lonberger 21.83
Men High Jump
2. Craig Saalfeld 2.12m
3. Dustin Andrews 2.11m
4. Alex Pyle 2.10m
Men Triple Jump
8. Josh Honeycutt 14.90m
Women 60-Meter Dash
18. Brooke Kent 7.70
Women 5,000-Meter Run
1. Jonel Rossbach 16:54.12
Women High Jump
6. Jennifer Robinson 1.71m
Women Long Jump
6. Brooke Kent 5.79m