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Cougars’ Jungmark wins high jump title

WSU's Ebba Jungmark waves to the crowd after winning the high jump. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From News Services The Spokesman-Review
WSU's Ebba Jungmark waves to the crowd after winning the high jump. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Washington State freshman Ebba Jungmark won the women’s high jump Friday at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Another local athlete, Idaho’s Russ Winger, finished second in the men’s shot put.

Jungmark, from Onsala, Sweden, won by clearing 6 feet, 2 1/2 inches. It was the second-best women’s high jump in WSU history. She is the second indoor national champion for the WSU women. Mary Moore, who holds the WSU record at 6-3, won NCAA titles in 1984 and 1985.

Winger, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., set a career best with a throw of 69-10 1/2 to take the lead going into the final round. However, Arizona State’s Ryan Whiting beat him with an NCAA-record throw of 71-3 1/2. It is the third consecutive second-place finish for Winger at nationals.

Meanwhile, Florida State star Walter Dix was out with a case of strep throat, leaving the NCAA Indoor meet without one of the world’s top sprinters.

Bianca Knight filled the void.

Knight, a Texas freshman, set a collegiate indoor record in the women’s 200 meters, finishing in 22.40 seconds. Her time was the fastest in the world this year – and made up for a disappointing fifth-place finish at the Big 12 championships.

“I was very disappointed at Big 12s because I did not run my race,” Knight said. “I said that here, everyone was going to pay for the way I ran at Big 12s.”

Dix, a 200 national champion the last two years in both indoor and outdoor track for the Seminoles, didn’t make the trip. He had qualified in the 200 and the 1,600 relay.

The Florida State men have won two straight team national championships in outdoor track and field, but they’ve never won the indoor title. They were ranked No. 1 by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association this week.

The Seminoles qualified for the 1,600 relay last weekend at a meet at Iowa State. Seminoles coach Bob Braman blamed that trip for Dix’s condition.

“I’m not a big fan of indoor track and field. There are no tracks in the South,” Braman said. “So he goes from toasty Tallahassee (Fla.) to Iowa State, where it’s 14 degrees.”

All was not lost for the Seminoles. Florida State’s Drew Brunson won the 60 hurdles in 7.527. Jason Richardson of South Carolina was just behind, finishing in 7.530.

Florida State led the men’s standings with 26 points after the first day. Tennessee was second with 20, followed by Arizona State at 19. Michigan led the women’s standings with 18 points. Mississippi, Texas and Virginia Tech were tied for second with 16.

Division III

Whitworth’s Emmanuel Bofa finished fifth in his heat of the 800 in the national indoor championships at Ada, Ohio.

Bofa’s time of 1:56.85 was not fast enough to qualify for the finals.