Trinity runner aims to learn from disappointment at state
Well after dark on May 14, Trinity sophomore Cameron Jones lined up with eight other competitors for the 6A state final in the 400-meter dash. Jones was the lone representative for his school at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin.
Jones would finish sixth of the nine runners, though he was later officially disqualified for taking too many consecutive steps on the inside lane marking.
“It hungered me a little bit to come back next year even stronger,” Jones said. “It happened. It’s something to learn from and go from there.”
It was disappointing, but shouldn’t overshadow an impressive season for the underclassman, who was the youngest of the finalists. The time Jones ran in regionals prior to the state meet would have been good enough for second place in the final. Jones, who has already set a school record for 400 meters, admits he was a little affected by the moment.
“I’m used to situations like that in football pads and with a helmet on and 10 other people on the field with me,” he said. “The focus just isn’t on me. It kind of threw me off my race a little bit. This was my first time to be at a state track meet. It was fun but it was also nerve-wracking.”
Jones isn’t completely new to elite track meets. He’s even competed at the Junior Olympic level with his track club. But there was just something slightly different about being in Austin in Trinity colors.
“In the Junior Olympics you’re just representing your track club. This time, I felt like I was representing the whole H-E-B area,” he said, pointing out the positive support he got on social media, including from rival school L.D. Bell. “I felt a little more pressure, but you thrive in those moments and that’s something I like. The only thing was, I got a little cold feet when it was time to run. I got a little nervous. It’s something I feel like I know won’t happen again.”
Jones is one of just a handful of athletes to reach the state track meet in the 10 years coach David Ryon has manned the program, and Ryon doesn’t want the disqualification to be the thing remembered.
“That’s something I don’t really want to dwell on just because of his accomplishments,” Ryon said. “To be one of the top nine in the state is just a tremendous accomplishment.”
Jones is also a defensive back on the Trojans football team, and combined with his gridiron résumé, he is already getting steady attention from colleges.
“I think a lot of that has to do with the fact he’s had so much success in track,” Ryon said. “When you’re a freshman and you run a 48-second quarter [mile], people start looking. These college coaches want kids that compete. If you’re just competing in football, that’s great, but if you come in the spring and show them you don’t mind working, track isn’t the most fun of sports. More times than not you’re just competing against yourself.”
Jones expects to be back in Austin this time next year and hopes this time he can bring some teammates.
“I would like to get my relays there next year,” he said.
This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 11:37 AM with the headline "Trinity runner aims to learn from disappointment at state."