Highland junior Lainey Jones in the Division I 400m at The 2022 AIA State Track & Field Championships at Mesa Community College.
Photo credit: David McBee/MileSplit Arizona
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MESA, AZ. -- After coming painstakingly close in her sophomore season at The 2021 AIA State Track & Field Championships in both the 100m and 200m, Highland junior Lainey Jones was able to capture her first title at this year's state meet.
Jones won the Division I 400m in a time of 55.91, a new personal best for Jones as she dipped under 56 seconds for the first time in her track career. A state championship is almost always a memorable moment for any athlete, but it was especially momentous for Jones following her narrow defeat in 2021 in the 100m. Jones finished in second at 11.88 compared to the winner, Trinity Henderson at 11.82 (who was at Chandler at the time). In the 200m, Jones ran 24.42 to place third.
Heading into The 2022 AIA State Track & Field Championships, Jones decided to up her workload and was entered in three individual events -- the 100m, 200m and 400m. She made the finals in all three, setting up a big final day for Jones with three different opportunities to win that elusive title.
First on the list was the 100m, which ended up being one of the most entertaining races at the state meet. Jones finished in fourth at 11.92, and was admittedly upset after running 11.75w (+2.6) in the prelims to establish the fastest time in qualifying.
"In the 100m, I was kind of disappointed," Jones said. "I had expectations for myself and I didn't really meet up to it."
With only two hours into between the two events, there was little time for Jones to dwell on the fourth-place finish in the 100m as she had to prepare for the 400m.
Immediately in the 400m as the gun went off, it was obvious that Jones was determined to win. Jones caught the lane ahead within the first 50 meters and was clearly surging heading into the back straight. With last year's state runner-up in the event, Chandler senior Jocelyn Johnson, at her back, Jones continued to push through 300 meters.
For a moment, as soon as they came off the bend into the last meters, it seemed that Johnson had the momentum and was about to slingshot past Jones. But it was then when Jones shifted into her final gear, unleashing a kick that held Johnson at bay. Johnson made one last move with 10 meters left -- it was too late though as Jones crossed the finish line first in 55.91 versus Johnson's time of 55.95.
Division I Girls 400m Final
"I'm pretty happy honestly," Jones said. " [..] I'm very proud. I think overall I've done very well. I take a lot of pride in it. Like, I think it's awesome."
But there was one last chance for Jones to get another medal -- in the 4x400m relay. Jones was the first leg and positioned her team in the lead at the hand-off, setting the stage for Highland to capture the team title in 3:52.86.
All in all, Jones walked away with four medals from this year's state championships. That is now seven total medals for Jones in just two years of competition after her freshman season was cut short due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jones is still hungry for more, though.
"I'm not done yet," Jones said following the state meet. "I want to keep building and getting better. After today, I feel like I can do a lot of hard stuff. Because today was really hard. So, I'll just keep getting better, building off what I did today."
Here is a post-race interview with Jones: