INSIDE COVERAGE: JONES HAS SIGHTS SET ON EVEN HIGHER ACCOLADES By Corey Adams A résumé filled with multiple race wins, records, conference medals and invitations to the NCAA Championships and Junior Pan American Games would certainly illustrate a monumental career. But even the greatest athletes are never satisfied. Junior track star Breigh Jones has already established herself as one of the most prestigious athletes to ever grace Austin Peay's campus, but her accomplishments as a freshman and sophomore are history. Jones has no intentions of selling herself short in pursuit of achieving each bullet point on her list of objectives. Most athletes would simply strive to medal in conference championships before taking the next step in competition. However, Jones is in search of greater goals. "I think it's important when you have goals above conference," she said. "Once you have those goals outside of conference, everything else will fall into place. If you want to be one of the top runners nationally in your event, of course you'll be able to dominate in the conference as well." Dominating has been a recurring theme for Jones week-by-week, traveling to six indoor events this season. Thus far, Jones has two individual victories, three record-breaking performances and has also been a part of several relay teams, coming off a runner-up finish alongside teammates Jessica Gray, Michaela McGhee, and Allysha Scott on Saturday, Feb. 7. Following the event in Carbondale, Illinois, Jones is now the only athlete in the Ohio Valley Conference to have top five marks in three dashes – 60m, 200m, and 400m. She also holds school records in each event, two occurring this season in her favorite event, the 400m (54.97), and 60m (7.64) which was recently added to her schedule. "I've been doing a lot of speed training lately and stepped away from my primary events to focus on speed," Jones said. "It definitely shows hard work pays off. It shows me that I don't have to focus on specific things. Just because I run the 400m doesn't mean it has to be my specialty." Jones admits she didn't like the 60m at first, because one mistake could instantly prove costly over such a short distance. But to help cross off one goal – winning OVC Athlete of the Year in indoor competition – Jones took on another event to prove she can be successful in multiple events. In OVC Championships, Jones has one gold medal, in the outdoor 400m, but is still unsatisfied with a silver medal from last season's indoor variety. You can label this step one on her list of expectations, but from there, her outlook goes well beyond conference competition. Jones desires to make it to indoor nationals, and outdoor regionals once the spring season begins, with aspirations of wearing gold around her neck after each event. But she doesn't want to get too caught up in her dreams. While the action on the track can be over in under a minute, Jones is focused on staying composed going into each practice leading up to meets. "Every day, I go out there like everyone is in competition with me as I'm running in a meet, because I want to get better," she said. "I think you just have to be patient. Track is a sport where we crave immediate results, because we compete every time and want to get better. But when you have so many variables, like your body and mind, you just have to be patient and know your training will get you to where you need to be." Just when you thought the script to the 'Breigh Jones Show' was over, think again. She is already looking ahead to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. Currently, Jones has reached a "B" standard, which allows her to enter into the field. Now her goal is to meet the "A" level, which would guarantee a spot and also provide her funding support. She's confident, motivated, and eager for the challenges which await her. Jones has essentially re-written the record books at APSU, but now has her sights set on even higher accolades. | 
