ESU track and field team has 7 winners at KSU Invite
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Emporia State track and field teams had seven first-place finishes and four provisional qualifiers at the KSU Invitational on Saturday in Manhattan.
The men’s triple jump was the highlight event for ESU with Josh Honeycutt winning the event and the Hornets claiming the top three spots — all with provisional qualifying marks.
“We got the entire team back in action after the semester break, with only five days of practice,” ESU head coach David Harris said. “I was pleased with their competitiveness. We have lost some conditioning and it will take several weeks to feel back in a routine of practices.” Honeycutt jumped 49 feet, 9 inches to improve on his own second-ranked mark in ESU history in the triple jump. Matt Koelling moved into third all-time at ESU in the triple jump with a mark of 48 feet, 4.5 inches for a provisional mark. Doug Marshall jumped 47 feet, 9 inches to provisional and move into sixth place all-time at ESU.
“The highlight of the meet for us was one-two-three in the men’s triple jump with all three athletes provisionally qualifying,” Harris said.
Kenton Longberger won two events for the ESU men on the track. He won the men’s 60-meter dash in 6.88 seconds to provisionally qualify for the third time in three meets. He also won the 300-meter dash in 34.92 seconds.
“Kenton Lonberger winning both the 60 meters and 300 meters against some Big 12 competition was big for his confidence,” Harris said.
Vincent Howze picked up the other individual win for the ESU men, winning the 400 meters. His third place time of 8.44 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles is the fourth fastest time in ESU history.
“Vincent Howze was the highlight for the freshmen guys with a win in the 400 and running one of the top five times in ESU history in his first collegiate hurdle race,” Harris said.
Jennifer Robinson won the high jump for the ESU women, while freshmen Jackie Jacobs and Katie Mona won the 400 meters and 800 meters, respectively.
“Katie Mona in the 800 and Jackie Jacobs in the 400 provided wins from our top freshmen,” Harris said. “... We had as many wins as I can remember at this meet.”