Jones: 'It was just my given day'
By Skip Weaver
Staff Writer
A little more than a week has passed since Middletown’s Skylar Jones was crowned the Division I state champion in the 300-meter hurdles.
But the excitement surrounding the achievement still has him mesmerized.
“I’m overwhelmed,” the junior said. “Anyone in that final could have won. It was my best race at the right time. I just want to thank everyone that supported me. All my hard work has paid off.”
It has also earned him the Journal’s 2006 Track Athlete of the Year honor.
“(Winning state) was a real honor,” Jones said. “I listened to my teammates and to my coaches. It was just my given day.”
Jones remembered listening to the words of Middletown coach Scott Dalton as he walked to the starting line with him.
“He told me not to take this for granted,” Jones said. “I think that was the biggest pep in my step because I can’t worry about next year. I might not be here next year. I did what I had to do to be successful.”
Jones also credited former Middies coach Bob Mucha with much of his success.
“My freshman year, we didn’t hit it off,” Jones said of Mucha. “I thought he was mean, but I was young. When I made the transition to hurdles my sophomore year, he really helped me a lot. He’s been great for me. I always listen to him. He’s one of the best hurdle coaches in Ohio.”
For his senior year, Jones hopes to repeat as the 300 hurdles state champ and win the 110 hurdles, but more than anything he wants to lead Middletown to the state championship.
“We’ve been third the last two years now,” he said. “It would be great for us to win the team championship next year.”
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