Kevin Roulhac broke his own record this past weekend at the Jayhawk Classic when he cleared the previous week’s record by six inches. Roulhac’s throw of 61-04.75 landed him second in the event, earning him a provisional qualifying mark. Other provisional qualifiers for the men included Zach Rosenberger in the pole vault and Andrew Etheridge in the 60m hurdles.
“Kevin (Roulhac) is getting very consistent and his confidence is very high,” said ESU Head Coach David Harris.
The women were able to put together two fourth place finishes. Courtney Maddux finished fourth in the 1000m and Sonya Schement finished fourth in the pole vault. ESU will return to action on February 4-5 as they travel to Lincoln, Neb., to take place in the Husker Invitational.
“We left a lot of our top athletes home to train and get ready for Nebraska,” Harris said. “We felt like the young ones needed to compete and continue to gain experience”
We got a really good evaluation at Wichita of where we are. I think that, in terms of the scoring and things, the men competed head to head with Wichita State. I mean, 17 points is not much. We could’ve done a few things different… In reality, we competed hard against a Division I school that is the Missouri Valley Conference Champion. That was a good way to come back. The women got fourth out of four. You could say, I think, on the women’s side, we’re younger, we don’t have as much depth, we’re looking for people to step up. On the men’s side, we had some people step up in that meet.
Brandon Schneeberger
Who specifically do you see having an impact this season?
On men’s side, I see our seniors are having the greatest impact. We have a very strong senior group on the men’s side. Many of them are national caliber competitors. Josh Honeycutt in both jumps, Josh Schuler in the sprints, they sort of take care of their areas. Zach Rosenberger in the pole volt is an All-American. And then we have others coming down from there. Will Hohmeier, Adam McGovern – they’re going to be senior leaders this year, and they’re going to make a huge difference in our program. They’re good leaders of the rest of them. I think how they go our team will go. Kevin Rouhlac in the throws is a tremendous leader – another senior, national caliber performer. That core group of athletes is gonna to make a huge difference in our program.
What newcomers do you see having an impact?
I have a seen a possible impact person in Carley Herring. I think she’s a freshman from Missouri that we were very happy to recruit. She’s going to have a lot of work cut out for her with the kind of conference sprinters that we have. But, as a sprinter, I think she’s going to make a difference.
Do you see more success coming during the indoor season or outdoor?
We’re set up as a pretty good indoor team. On the men’s side, we have some high caliber national athletes that can take care of events in this conference meet. Many of them have been MIAA champions, so they’re going back to try to do it again. That’s a good feeling as a head coach to have that. I think we’re set up really well indoors. Outdoors, probably not as much because of the depth that’s required outdoors in the throws and more of the events that you add.
After an injury kept her out of the usual lineup for the Emporia State Cross Country team, junior and former MIAA champion Katie Mona has returned for the Hornets this season. The return has not gone unnoticed by the team.
“I think she’s looked very good,” said Head Coach David Harris. “She’s not 100 percent… I know she will relish the day when she can be 100 percent and not have pain in her foot. Right now she’s giving everything she can, so I really credit her for what she’s able to do.”
What could be a more impressive feat is the relative lack of experience for Mona. Originally form Lenexa, Mona attended Olathe Northwest High School and didn’t begin running cross country until her junior year. After school she decided Emporia State would be a good fit.
“I picked Emporia because of the size and location,” Mona said. “At first I wanted to be an elementary education major, and they have a really good program here for that, but I ended up switching majors anyways.”
For Mona, Emporia has so far been a good choice as she has already become a two-time national qualifier and an MIAA champion in the mile run last year with a time of 4:57.
Unfortunately for Mona, a stress fracture in her foot has kept her out of the first half of this year’s cross country season.
“I couldn’t run, I couldn’t swim for awhile, and then I got back into biking. And then the second time I got a stress fracture again, in the same spot, I could only swim for six weeks,” Mona said.
Despite suffering the stress fracture, Mona has been able to be the high point’s scorer for the women’s team upon her return even placing first in the Tabor Invitational, her first meet since returning from injury.
Senior runner Kathryn Davison who has been running with Mona for three years recognizes Mona’s impact.
“She’s our highest point scorer, so when we found out she might not be able to run, it was kind of a hurting situation, but she’s a quick healer. It’s that natural talent that she has for her to come back so fast.”
Mona, a junior health promotions major, is gearing up for the MIAA championships set to take place on Nov. 6.
“She’s a really amazing athlete, she’s got natural talent. She’s just an all-around good athlete,” Davison said.
A heartbreaking 37-34 homecoming defeat to Truman last Saturday drops the Hornets to 5-4 on the season. The loss left the Hornets with a 4-1 home record on the year in what was also Senior Day for 12 players.
“No doubt we had our chances to win today as we left a lot on the field today,” said Head Coach Garin Higgins. “It’s very disappointing, but we still have some football left before the season is over.”
Kevin Smart scored the game’s first touchdown with 3:20 left in the first quarter. TSU responded by recovering a Tyler Eckenrode fumble at the ESU four yard line and running in for a touchdown to tie the game.
ESU retook the lead after David Harris blocked a punt that Taylor Beitler would run in for a touchdown to make the score 14-7. A three yard touchdown run with 55 seconds left in the half by Truman would tie the game at 14.
After halftime and a Truman field goal, ESU sophomore Derwin Hall scored two touchdowns in a two and a half minute span, one of which was a career long 65 yard touchdown run to help the Hornets take a 27-17 advantage.
“I was thankful to have the opportunity to show my speed today,” Hall said after the game. “It was a tough loss today, but we are going to bounce back in the face of adversity.”
Truman would cut into the Hornet lead before the end of the third quarter with a 20 yard touchdown run to make the score 27-24 at the end of three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, an unblemished home record seemed imminent after a touchdown run by Adrian Abner and an interception by Michael Luthi on the Bulldog’s following possession. However, the Hornets were unable to add to the lead before giving the ball back.
Truman would score a touchdown after driving the ball 71 yards in less than two minutes. With only about four minutes in the game, Abner would fumble at the ESU 20 yard line resulting in a TSU touchdown run with two minutes left in the game. ESU would block the PAT to keep it at 37-34, but would turn the ball over on downs to end the game.
“It’s very frustrating to end our season at home that way as we had a lot of missed opportunities,” Higgins said. “We are going to have to bounce back from this loss, and move on to next week.”
The Hornets travel Saturday to St. Joseph, MO to take on Missouri Western as they look to bounce back from the loss.
The Emporia State men’s and women’s cross country teams held their final home meet this Friday at Jones park. The women were once again led by Katie Mona who finished thirteenth overall. Will Hohmeier led the way for the men placing fifteenth. The men were able to land a second place finish in the 8K as the women finished sixth overall in the 5K.
“Overall I was pretty proud of my race,” Hohmeier said. “I looked at my time when I finished, and it was about the same time I ran for conference last year, so I’m a little ahead of shape than I was last year. Fifteenth out of a 250 man race is pretty good.”
For the Hornets, Asher Delmott once again was one of the top runners finishing 21st overall. He was followed by Jacob Bull, 26th, and Marcus Portofee, 31st. Although he may not have placed as high as he did, Delmott was able to put together his personal record for the Hornets finishing in 26:06.88.
“My time was pretty good. I would have liked to place a little higher. I really would have liked to get under 26 (minutes),” Delmott said. “This is my PR for the 8K, so can’t be disappointed with that, but still gotta just keep pushing.”
Katie Mona continued her impressive performance in her return from injury. Finishing in 13th place, Mona ran the 5K in 18:59.46. The Hornets were able to place four runners in the top fifty. Amy Feldkamp, Kathryn Davison, and Courtney Maddux finished 25th, 36th, and 48th respectively. Sydney Oltjen finished 51st.
“It wasn’t as good as I would have hoped… but for this year I’m happy with it, just getting back to running,” Mona said.
Out of 202 runners and 22 teams the women able to finish sixth overall as a team. Though disappointed with the outcome for the women, Head Coach David Harris was still pleased with his team’s effort.
“We need to do well in our home meet,” Harris said. “I’m disappointed with sixth, but we’ll take that today. There’s a lot of good teams here, and a lot more teams we’ve ever faced before, so we’re going to take sixth… and we’re just going to have to work hard the next three weeks.”
The cross country teams look to continue to improve on their times. Their next meet is the Graceland Yellowjacket Classic in Lamonia, IA on Oct. 23.
A glow rose from Welch Stadium at Emporia Sate as students gathered last night at a candlelight vigil in memory of junior business marketing major Samuel Williams. Williams was found dead on Wednesday as a result of a motorcycle accident.
Over 150 students came to the candlelight vigil held for Williams last night. Jennifer Baldwin/The Bulletin.
His former track coach, John David Harris, said that the autopsy report showed no evidence of alcohol or drug use.
As an All-American track athlete with a personal best time of 20.99 seconds for 200 meters, Williams undoubtedly contributed to the team, but his teammates said his talent surpassed athletic ability.
“The guy was a world class athlete, I had no doubt in my mind that he would have been in the Olympics one day if he wanted to, he had that kind of talent,” said Kent Lonberger, junior communication major and member of the track team. “But he was also a great teammate. He led by example, and had very few words, but when he spoke, he meant it and you could always get a good laugh out of Sam.”
A starting block was set up on the track in memory of Williams. Jennifer Baldwin/The Bulletin.
Harris recalled an example of Sam’s sportsmanlike attitude.
“Last year after the outdoor championships, it was my last year coaching,” Harris said. “He gave me his All-American award, and he was just very grateful. I was just a provider of workouts and here he is showing me his gratitude.”
Williams was determined and confident in his athletic ability even before he had the support of the coaching staff, which he showed when he first approached Harris.
“The first time he walked into my office, he asked if he could run track,” Harris said. “When you hear somebody say they can run 10.3 seconds in the 100 meter, you kind of laugh it off, but the first time I saw him at practice, he took about three steps and I looked at the other coaches and just smiled.”
Jennifet Baldwin/ The Bulletin
At that same practice, Williams made a first impression on teammate Derwin Hall, sophomore pre-physical therapy major.
“I remember the first time I met Sam, I was actually intimidated,” Hall said. “But once you talk to him, or he cracks a smile, or you get to know his personality, you just see that he’s the sweetest guy.”
Lonberger said that he will remember Williams for his character.
Track coach David Harris stands next to the illuminated finish line during Thursday night's candlelight vigil. Jennifer Baldwin/The Bulletin.
“Sam had the biggest smile ever, he was a great friend and loyal,” Lonberger said. “He was there for you whenever you needed it. He was just a great guy.”
His personality was one that Lonberger said will not soon be forgotten.
“It’s amazing to me, all of the people that showed up,” Lonberger said. “He was only here two years, but he affected a lot of people and changed a lot of lives. As a team, we are going to do whatever we can to honor him in our lives and on the track.”
Brooke Kent, senior psychology major, said that Williams will remain an inspiration for the team.
“I think everybody on this team is going to miss him,” Kent said. “But I know our team is going to be stronger because of this.”
Samuel Williams, junior business management major and member of the ESU track team, was found dead late yesterday afternoon. Williams was thought to be missing and was last seen at 11 a.m. on Sunday at his residence.
Authorities reported in a release that Williams lost control of his motorcycle north of Emporia on K-99 and Lyon County Road 150. His body was located one tenth of a mile off the roadway.
Williams was an international student from the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and was 24 years old.
Don Weast, assistant director of media relations, said Williams was an All-American on the Emporia State track team, running the 60-meter, 200-meter and the 4-by-100 meter relay.
“We’re dealing with this individually and as a team,” said David Harris, head track and field coach. “That’s all that I want to say right now. We will be ready to talk in the morning but we need to deal with this as a team right now.”
His teammates had only good things to say about him.
“He was just a great guy,” said Kenton Lonberger, junior communication major and member of the track team. “He was really loyal and had great values. He stood up for what he believed in and that reflected in every aspect of his life. He was always there as a friend and he was a great guy to be around.”
Williams held several records for ESU including a 4-by-100 meter relay record acquired in May at the NCAA Championships. Lonberger is on the record holding team.
“On the wall downstairs, he has a record in the 60; he has a record in 4 by 1,” Lonberger said. “He was one of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever been around and been a teammate with. The guy had more talent than most people dream about.”
Although he had no family who lived in the U.S., Lonberger said that Williams’ teammates more than made up for that.
“It’s like losing a brother,” he said. “We were so close, all of us. It’s really like losing a family member. We’re struggling now but we’re going to overcome this. He was from France so he didn’t have family here. He had family, but not blood.”
A candlelight vigil for Williams will be held at 8 p.m. tonight in Welch Stadium.
———UPDATE———
According to a statement released by President Lane’s office, the candlelight vigil for Williams is being planned by the ESU track team. Visitors are asked to enter on the west side of the stadium. During the memorial service, photos of Williams, his uniform and spikes will be on display. A starting block will also be on the track and 20.99 seconds will be on the stadium clock, Williams’ time in the 200 as an All-American. There will also be a short prayer by Damon Leiss and Coach Harris will speak. The clock will then be run down to zero.
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