The Emporia State indoor track and field team earned six All-America honors this past weekend at the Division II National Championships in Mankato, Minn.
The ESU men finished 11th as a team, while the ESU women took 23rd.
Unfortunately for Jonel Rossbach, her final indoor meet did not go as planned.
The senior, who had hopes of winning a National Championship, finished sixth in the 5,000-meter run on Saturday. Her time of 17:16.91 was more than 13 seconds behind the race-winner, Winrose Karunde of Abilene Christian.
“Jonel did not have a comfortable race,” ESU track and field coach Dave Harris said. “Running in a crowd, she was pushed around and did not get in a rhythm. She took the lead at one point but was not able to pull away.
“Like all good runners that have a disappointing race, she will just have to learn and come back stronger in the outdoor season. She did put a lot of pressure on herself being ranked No. 1 going in.”
Also on Saturday, ESU freshman Kenton Lonberger earned All-America status with a fifth-place showing in the 200-meter run.
His time of 21.80 seconds in the preliminaries on Friday broke a school record.
Josh Honeycutt was the only other male to compete on Saturday, fouling in all three of his attempts in the triple jump.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Robinson was 13th in the high jump, and Brooke Kent was 14th in the 60-meter dash on Saturday.
“Jennifer and Joshua will be back here and earn All-American awards,” Harris said, “but it will have to wait until the future.”
ESU had four athletes earn All-American status on Friday: Alex Pyle (3rd, high jump), Dustin Andrews (4th, high jump), Craig Saalfeld (8th, high jump) and Kent (6th, long jump).
“All of these athletes are already looking forward to outdoors,” Harris said. “I am very pleased with the men’s team finish, and all of them are back next year.”
ESU Individual Results
Women 60 Meter Dash
14. Brooke Kent 7.71
Women 5,000 Meter Run
6. Jonel Rossbach 17:16.91
Women High Jump
13. Jennifer Robinson 1.65m 5-05.00
Women Long Jump
6. Brooke Kent 5.61m 18-05.00
Men 60 Meter Dash
13. Kenton Lonberger 6.87
Men 200 Meter Dash
Preliminaries
2. Kenton Lonberger 21.80q
Finals
5. Kenton Lonberger 21.94
Men High Jump
3. Alex Pyle 2.09m 6-10.25
4. Dustin Andrews 2.09m 6-10.25
8. Craig Saalfeld 1.96m 6-05.00
Men Triple Jump
-- Josh Honeycutt FOUL
Final Team Scores
Women
Team Rankings – Top 25 Schools
1. Adams State 55
2. St. Augustine’s 48
3. Lincoln 38.33
4. SIU-Edwardsville 38
5. Ashland 37
6. Grand Valley State 36
6. South Dakota 36
8. Minnesota St.–Mankato 34
9. Seattle Pacific 33
10. Abilene Christian 31
11. Cal St-LA 20
11. Findlay 20
13. Minnesota St.–Moorhead 15.50
14. Southern Indiana 13
15. Ferris State 12
16. Wisconsin-Parkside 11
17. Bemidji State 10
17. J.C. Smith 10
19. Missouri Southern 9
20. Slippery Rock 8.50
21. Lock Haven 7
21. Wayne State 7
23. Emporia State 6
23. Nebraska-Kearney 6
23. Western State 6
Men
Team Rankings
1. St. Augustine’s 68
2. Abilene Christian 49
3. Adams State 39
4. Grand Valley State 37
5. Ashland 35
6. Lincoln 34
7. Minnesota St.–Mankato 25
8. Harding 20
9. Missouri Southern 18
10. Western State 17
11. Emporia State 15.50
12. Fort Hays State 15
12. South Dakota 15
14. Colorado School of Mines 13
15. SIU-Edwardsville 12
16. Hillsdale 11.50
17. Bemidji State 11
18. Queens 10
18. Slippery Rock 10
18. J.C. Smith 10
21. California (PA) 9
21. Missouri Tech 9
21. Central Missouri 9
24. Albany State 8
24. Mansfield 8
24. S. Connecticut St. 8
24. Pittsburg St. 8