Avion Jones looks for redemption in Olympic tryouts

No one is beating themselves up more right now than East Carolina senior high jumper Avion Jones. Though the All-American managed to land the second highest jump in the world this year, while breaking an NCAA high jump record doing so, some say Jones disappointed when he failed to capture the NCAA crown two weekends ago in Eugene, Oregon.

“He wanted to win it but obviously it never turns out how you want it to go. But he had a good, good year,” said head coach Curt Kraft. “There are other kids that are on par with him. You have to be ready on that day, and I don’t care what kind of athletic event it is, if you’re not ready on that day it’s just not going to happen, and he didn’t have his best day.”

Jones had a bad day and only registered a jump of 2.19 meters, putting himself behind National Champion Randall Cunningham Jr., the son of retired NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham,  of Southern California by .06 meters; his record jump would have put him ahead of Cunningham by .6 meters. Albeit, Jones ended his collegiate career not quite as high as he would have liked, he actually did give himself an advantage.

“He’s one of those guys that when he doesn’t have a very good meet the previous meet, he comes back and performs even bigger and better the next time,” said Kraft.

With that said, one couldn’t figure a better time than this summer’s Rio Olympic tryout for Jones to come out and do even better than before, this time with a chip on his shoulder from letting himself down.

Training with Kraft and jumping coach Joe Blaney, Jones will have into the early days of July to focus on being one of the three chosen Americans to represent the United States.

“We leave for Oregon on July 5 for the trials, and he jumps on July 8, on a Friday,” said Kraft.

Three seems like a very tight spot to jump into, but Jones does have the highest mark in the NCAA this season and the second highest in the world this year. Achieving a spot would not be irrational thinking for the three-time All-American.

“Not only are you competing against former college competition, you’re dealing with all the amateurs and professionals in the sport, you’re dealing with the big boys now,” said Kraft.

Kraft, who called Jones the best athlete he ever coached in his 31 years, knows if anyone can do it, Jones is the one.

“If he gets hot like he did at the conference championships, (his world record performance) then there is a chance,” Kraft said. “And that’s all he asks for is a chance.”

Jumping in the same high jump pit he did two weeks ago, Jones won’t be a stranger to the course, giving him some sort of an advantage. However, for now, Jones’ biggest beneficiary is the chip on his shoulder obtained two weeks ago at Nationals. Jones, unlike many other jumpers, gets the chance to redeem himself a month later in the same place he suffered his most tragic defeat. This time, he’ll carry a chip with him, and it will be on the world’s stage.

“What better time, than this Olympic trial to get fired up and focused,” said Kraft.