New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Lauralton’s Jones welcomes chance to run against best
MILFORD — Kelly
Jones has a plan when it comes to cross country.
That plan worked to perfection this past Tuesday when Jones, the top runner at Lauralton Hall, placed first at the 32nd Neubauer Invitational in Wallingford.
Pack racing, where teammates gauge and feed off other runners to earn team points, takes place with front-runners as well.
“The same rules apply. It’s being prepared. I know in big meets there are girls there that I’ve run with before,” said Jones, a junior whose time of 20 minutes, 27 seconds at the Neubauer was a season best. “You learn who goes out faster and girls that are conservative at the start. I stay with the pack I can run with. After a mile or two, I take it from there on how to finish.”
Jones knows that those observations and adjustments won’t guarantee a similar result at today’s 37th annual Wickham
Park XC Invitational in Manchester.
“It is a tough course, so I am nervous,” Jones said. “We are excited as a team to see how we do. We’ve had a great season of racing and training. I’m excited to see how I can improve. To be able to have state and SCC championships is super. I can’t wait to see how things pan out in the more competitive races like that.”
Jones bettered 59 runners at the Neubauer, three that finished between 21:21.10 and 21:59.10.
“It was fun to be back there,” Jones said. “Last year with COVID we didn’t have that meet. I wasn’t expecting to win, but after the first mile I felt smooth and relaxed. It was great to come away with it.”
Jones is coming off a sophomore season that saw her earn All-State and All-SCC honors. However, it hasn’t been all medals and high fives for the Easton resident.
“There have been runs I haven’t felt my best; the ones I thought I could stick with the pack and went out too fast. Then I’d die out and would have to fall back,” she said. “This year, I feel I’ve consistently went out at a pace I can keep and work up from there.”
Jones takes a day off from her training regimen, often under protest.
“As it’s gotten more competitive, and I’ve gotten my times down, it is harder to stop and rest,” she said. “My coaches have got to remind me. I know in the long run taking that day off here or there will be beneficial. Still, it is hard because I love running.”
Summertime is work time.
“Freshmen year, my training was running for the sake of running,” she said of hitting the streets. “Last year I began to build up my mileage. This year I added a couple more miles each week. I increased the tempo as we got closer to the season.”
Jones doesn’t have a favorite course. She does like a certain terrain.
“Cross country has many variables. There are hills and weather that come into play,” she said. “I’m better going against a tough hilly course. I feel I can plan surges. It is where I can push the pace better. Being able to adapt to what is thrown at me, knowing I left it all on the course, is how I judge being successful.”
Jones recounts her venture into long distance running.
“I race with my sister Brooke (a senior) at Lauralton,” she said. “In 5th grade Brooke joined our middle school cross country team. My dad has run 19 marathons. I knew it was in me. When I got to 7th grade, I knew I wanted to continue running in high school. Brooke and I are supportive of each other. Running is something that connects us.”
Jones is a track standout. She runs the 800-, 1600- and 3200-meter runs along with the 4x800 relay. She is the school record holder in the 800 (2:26), the 1600 (5:14.3) and the 3200 (11:42.2).
“I began to run times I didn’t expect to be running last year,” she said.
“It helped me be more competitive. Our 4x8 knows each other well. I usually run the first leg. I run better when I’m pushed by other runners. That leg is where I run my best times.
“There is internal pressure to be better each race,” Jones added. “That is important thing to have. Coming off a good season last year, even with the pandemic, pushes me to be better. My coaches and teammates are supportive, so it’s not a bad pressure.