Jones Named USATF Athlete of the Week
INDIANAPOLIS — Tia Jones (Marietta, Ga.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the 13-14 girls’ 100m and 200m hurdles and setting national and Junior Olympic records in both events at the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships on July 28.
Jones who will not turn 13 years old until September 8th, won the 13-14 girls’ 100m hurdles final in 13.53 to establish the record after twice breaking her own record earlier preliminary rounds.
Two hours later, Jones won the 200m hurdles in 25.80, after setting the national and Junior Olympic record in the first round at 25.34. She bettered the standing national and Junior Olympic record in each round she competed.
“My goal for the 200m hurdles was to run in the 25.2-second range,” Jones said. “When I came out of the curve, I stumbled a little bit. But I enjoy the challenge and the uniqueness of running the hurdles.”
Jones picked up her first medal of the Junior Olympics, a silver medal, in the 200m dash on Saturday. She held the fastest wind-legal qualifying time in the event at 24.02.
“I was super excited I did so well,” Jones said of the 200m. “Of course, I wanted to win. I was little tired because I just ran the 200m hurdles.”
Now in its 12th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2013 Winners: January 9, Bobby Mack; January 16, Mary Cain; January 22, Ajeé Wilson; January 30, Duane Solomon; February 6, Chris Derrick; February 13, Jeremy Taiwo; February 20, Alysia Montaño; February 27, Galen Rupp; March 6, Jenn Suhr; March 13, Tia Brooks; March 20, Bridget Franek; March 27, Ben True; April 3, Darvis “Doc” Patton; April 10, Octavious Freeman; April 24, Erik Kynard; May 1, Queen Harrison; May 8, Tyson Gay; May 15, Jon Olsen; May 22, Mary Cain; May 29, Michael Tinsley; June 5, Mary Cain; June 12, Brianna Rollins; June 26, Brianna Rollins; July 3, Thomas Burns; July 10, Ryan Whiting; July 17, William Bell. Sr.; July 24, Jenny Simpson; July 31, Tia Jones
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track & field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the World's #1 Track & Field Team, the most-watched events at the Olympics, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States: www.usatf.org.
