Avion Jones Set to Compete at NCAA Indoor Championships
March 11, 2015 | Track & Field
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina junior Avion Jones is set to compete in the men's high jump at the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday, March 14. He is the only Pirate representative to make an appearance. The championships run from Friday, March 13 - Saturday, March 14.
"Avion is very excited to be at the NCAA Indoor National Championships," Head coach Curt Kraft said. "To qualify for this meet is a very difficult task, especially when you take into consideration that only 16 individuals in the entire country make it this far."
Jones qualified for the men's high jump after posting a career-best and school-record clearance of 2.24-meters (7' 4.25") at the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet on February 6. His mark ranks him in a tie for sixth in the nation as he is just 1.5-inches shy of first in the country.
"I am confident that Avion has prepared himself to do very well at this meet," Kraft stated. "He has had a great season up to this point and there is no reason to believe that it won't continue through the championship meet."
Jones' successful year includes resetting the indoor men's high jump record on two occasions and being named American Athletic Conference Men's Field Athlete of the Week three separate times. Additionally, the Virginia Beach, Va., native won gold in the high jump at the American Athletic Conference Championship with a mark of 2.14-meters (7' 0.25") en route to being selected to the American All-Conference First Team.
In his second year at ECU, Jones has established himself as a top performer as he has seen postseason action before. Most recently, he earned a ninth-place finish in the men's high jump at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships as he tallied a mark of 2.15-meters (7' 0.25").
"I think one of the biggest things that is going to play to Avion's advantage is that he has been exposed to this type of competition before," Kraft continued. "He will use his experience as motivation to do well at this meet. He is a very focused and fiery competitor."
The school record holder in both the men's indoor and outdoor high jump is set to compete on day two of the NCAA Indoor Championships.
ESPN3 will stream the meet live on March 13 and 14 starting at 7 p.m. (ET). A tape delay of the championship will air March 23 starting at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU.
Players Mentioned
