PUEBLO, Colo. –
Nick Jones doesn't take a day off when the NCAA national championships appear on the schedule of the Abilene Christian University Wildcats. The No. 1 collegiate discus thrower in the nation, Jones won his fourth Division II title in convincing fashion Friday at the DeRose ThunderBowl.
He had the three longest throws in the competition and finished with a best of 196 feet, 1 inch, to become only the third man in Division II outdoor track and field history to win his event four times – and the first in the discus.
“That's why you compete – to win,” he said. “Winning four championships in the same event for a coach and athlete is like a dream come true. It means so much to me, coach (Jerrod) Cook and the school.”
The 22-year-old senior from Amarillo Tascosa, who is also top-seeded in the shot put here Saturday, grabbed the lead in the second round with his 196-1 and was never seriously threatened. He also had throws of 193-1 in the fourth round and 195-1 in round five.
The Wildcats, hoping to repeat a title they won last year in Turlock, Calif., stand in second place with 26 points after seven of 21 events. Western State, Colo., leads with 38, and just behind the Wildcats are two teams with 18 points each, Central Missouri and Adams State, Colo.
The only other two men in NCAA Division II history with four titles in one event are former Wildcat Freddie Williams in the 800 meters in 1984-85-86-87 and Central Missouri's Vladimir Golias in the steeplechase in 1998-99-00-01.
Jones was one of two scorers for coach Roosevelt Lofton's Wildcats here Friday on the second of three days of the 50th annual NCAA Division II track and field championships on the campus of Colorado State-Pueblo.
ACU junior Amanda Ouedraogo, a favorite in the women's triple jump, finished runner-up in 42 feet, 8.25 inches after being upset by sophomore Kearah Danville of New Mexico Highlands (43-3.75).
Jones also won discus titles in 2008 (187-0) as a freshman in Walnut, Calif., 2009 (182-1) as a sophomore in San Angelo, and last year (199-4) in Turlock, Calif., after a redshirt season in 2010.
Jones opened with 173-11 here Friday and was in fourth place before his second effort.
“Anything can happen at the national meet,” Jones said. “You just have to have faith in the training we have done. We got here Sunday, and I sat around five days just thinking about it – fighting those negative thoughts, trying to stay positive.”
He admitted to being nervous and feeling “tons of pressure” – even in the finals after he had taken the lead. “All those guys can throw big,” he said. “I knew they had it in them. I didn't try to force it. It was such a great atmosphere. I couldn't believe I had won. I was just happy and having fun.”
Jones remembered a three-foul performance at Texas-Arlington March 24 to miss the finals in that meet earlier this season. Of his first throw Friday, he said, “I definitely wanted to just get a mark, one that would get me in the finals.
“I was a little more relaxed on my second throw,” he continued. “I just tried to up the tempo, drive and build power with my right leg."
It was a 1-2-3 finish for the Lone Star Conference in the discus with William Griffin of Texas A&M-Kingsville (187-5 on his final throw) and Servell Dandridge of West Texas A&M (185-5) trailing Jones.
Jones, who also has four LSC titles in the discus, is a provisional qualifier for the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore., June 22-July 1 in both the discus and shot put.
Ouedraogo, this year's Division II indoor champion for the Wildcats, was the early leader in the women's triple jump with her best coming in the opening round of the first flight. But Danville, competing in the second flight, edged into first, and Ouedraogo managed only 41-6.5, 40-8.75 and 40-9.75 in the finals.
The Wildcats had entries in three other finals here Friday, but each failed to score. Parker Petty was ninth in the decathlon with 6,576 points, Chloe Susset was ninth in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at 11:06.91, and Cassie Brooks was 15th in the heptathlon with 4,377 points.
In the multi-events, Lindsay Lettow of Central Missouri held Thursday's lead to finish Friday's seventh event with 5,748, and Patrick Smith of Cal State-Chico came from behind to win with 7,366 after 10 events Friday by overtaking another Central Missouri favorite, Darius Walker.
The steeplechase winner was Betsy Graney of Grand Valley State in 10:23.92. A transfer from Division I member William and Mary, she's the only automatic qualifier for the Olympic trials competing here this weekend with a Division II best-ever of 9:53.85 earlier this season at Stanford.
Four other Wildcats advanced to Saturday's finals from Friday's preliminaries. Paris Robertson qualified in the men's 200 in 21.19, Ayesha Rumble in the women's 800 in 2:10.95, Lexus Williams in the women's 100 hurdles in 13.74, and Dennis Bain in the men's 110 hurdles in 13.80. Bain won his semifinal heat and posted Friday's top qualifying time in his event.
Failing to advance were Shennae Steele in the women's 200 (24.04), Jordan Geary in the men's 200 (21.33), Kevin Johnson in the men's 110 hurdles (14.26), and Bango Jayesimi in the men's 800 (1:54.92).
The women's 1,600-meter relay team also qualified for Saturday after running 3:43.27, the fifth best time of the day. Lincoln, Mo., led with 3:38.20.
In the men's 1,600 relay, ACU was the fourth seed at 3:10.42, but Lofton was forced to juggle his lineup after relay regular Jayesimi apparently became ill after his 800 race. The Wildcats came in at 3:14.24 and failed to advance in semifinals led by the 3:08.71 of Johnson C. Smit.
Ouedraogo's eight points Friday are the only points for the ACU women after eight of 21 events. The reigning champion, Grand Valley State, Mich., leads with 56 points.
