Events Calendar
In This Section
UA men's and women's basketball make changes
Dambrot announces changes to UA basketball staff
U.S. soccer team's play thrills UA's Porter
UA hires associate head coach for women's basketball
University of Akron announces times for football games
UA names Yurachek interim athletic director
Kayes earns redemption as All-American
Most Read Stories
Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family
Woman, 75, charged with beating fawn to death
Akron woman found dead at Brimfield Township store
Man shot in back near Akron park
Man shot outside his Akron home during robbery attempt
Man admits repeatedly biting 2-year-old
Tragic day puts man on path to be Pinnacle owner
Blogs:
Pets:
Dogs' Bark: Not fair! Study shows pups get jealous
The Heldenfiles:
Who Will Get the Michael Media Treatment Next?
Patrick McManamon:
More on Varejao
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Kent State
Browns Bulletin:
Quick thought on Browns rookies
Tribe Matters:
Wedge challenges relievers
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Andy’s Signed According to ESPN
All Da King's Men:
Does Medicare Have Lower Administrative Costs ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
CIA Did Mislead Congress
Akron Law Café:
Breaking Story: CIA Lied to Congress about Secret Program
Varsity Letters:
East basketball update
See Jane Style:
Oh Baby!
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Closings….Not the Good Kind!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Margy inquires-when is a Taste of Hudson?
Sound Check:
LeVert II live performance Saturday night — "Dedication" album due July 13,
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
First 24 'Guitar Hero 5' songs announced
Twinsburg's Ryan Jones clears early obstacles to leap into NCAA finals
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2008
A total of 1,088 student-athletes will be competing in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships this week in Des Moines, Iowa.
Twinsburg's Ryan Jones, a senior high jumper at the University of Akron, took the long way to get there.
Three years ago, Jones was a basketball player at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, wondering whether his track career was over.
Once he got his academics in order, he was able to enroll at UA in 2006. Then came satisfying and productive seasons as a sophomore and junior that, nevertheless, ended frustratingly short of the national meet.
Then, his last chance was put in jeopardy May 31, when he finished 10th in the Mideast regional in Fayetteville, Ark. He then had to wait to see whether his 7-feet, 3/4-inch jump during the season would be enough to get him to Des Moines as an at-large entrant.
That news came last week, when he became one of eight high jumpers added to the field of 20 who qualified automatically at the regionals.
''I knew it was going to be close. I had my fingers crossed. All I could do is wait,'' Jones said. ''When my coach sent me a text message that I made it, I didn't know what to say. I was speechless. It was something that I was waiting for ever since I came to Akron.''
Zips coach Dennis Mitchell was almost as excited as Jones about the news.
''He deserves it. It's something that he has been trying to do. He's had so many disappointments at the regionals and now he can end his career like this,'' Mitchell said. ''He has been so solid for us for three years.
''He has never been afraid of challenges and has always had big goals. He reached a big one.''
In 2003, Jones won the Division I state high school championship for Twinsburg, jumping 6-foot-9 to edge — by one inch — Dayton Colonel White's Quade Milum (who went on to complete a solid basketball career for the Zips in March).
However, Jones did not achieve a high enough score on the ACT to qualify for a Division I scholarship. So he went to Lakeland and played basketball to stay in shape.
''That was a long two years,'' Jones said. ''I was itching to get back to track, but I didn't know if it was going to happen.''
Jones qualified academically at Lakeland and enrolled at UA in 2006. Jumping ahead, let it be known that Jones graduated May 10 with a bachelor's degree in media production and business organization.
In track, he became an immediate contributor for the Zips as a sophomore, finishing third in the MAC meet. He then finished eighth in the Mideast regional, missing the finals.
As a junior in 2007, he won the MAC title but placed sixth in the regional, missing the nationals by one spot.
In neither of those years did he have a jump that put him into the at-large pool. But his 7-3/4 effort at the All-Ohio Championships in Cincinnati in April was high enough to qualify for the national meet, which runs Wednesday through Saturday.
''I am prepared. I have competed against most of the field before, so I know what to expect,'' said Jones, who finished second in the MAC meet in May to help the Zips win the men's title. ''I am going to relax and not try to focus too much on the mental things. That wears you down. . . .
''I have to visualize my jumps and focus on fundamentals and technique.''
Jones will be joined in Des Moines by teammates Cadeau Kelley (men's long jump), Auston Papay (men's discus) and Stevi Large (women's hammer).
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
A total of 1,088 student-athletes will be competing in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships this week in Des Moines, Iowa.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
