Rossbach takes 2nd in 10,000; ESU women 1st after day 1 at nationals
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 02:57 p.m., May 23, 2008
Updated 02:57 p.m., May 23, 2008
The Emporia State women’s track team sits in first place after Day One of the Division II Track and Field National Championships in Walnut, Calif.
ESU was led by Jonel Rossbach, who came up just short of her first national championship.
The senior placed second in the 10,000-meter run (35:35.02), finishing only behind Abilene Christian’s Winrose Karunde.
Rossbach, who entered the event seeded third, ran with Karunde all the way until the final lap.
Karunde opened up a 15-meter lead with 600 meters to go, completing the race in a time of 35:29.68.
“Jonel tried to hard to get up to her, but she never could get close enough,” ESU coach Dave Harris said. “She hasn’t given up on her goal of a national championship. I think she’s excited now about the 5,000.”
One positive for Rossbach is that Karunde will not be in the 5,000-meter run. The ACU runner instead will compete in the steeplechase.
Brooke Kent was a surprise All-American in the long jump, finishing sixth with a leap of 18 feet, 4.25 inches.
Kent entered the competition ranked 20th and was the last person to make the nine-person final field in wet conditions.
Kent also took 17th in the 100-meter dash preliminaries.
Kenton Lonberger was the only ESU male athlete to compete Thursday, and he took 12th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.62 seconds.
ESU’s women compiled 11 team points, which put them ahead of both Abilene Christian and Findlay (10 points).
Competition continues today with ESU athletes taking part in the men’s high jump, men’s and women’s 200-meter preliminaries, and 5,000-meter preliminaries.