Aug. 3, 2008 — One of the better-known V.I. Olympians, Laverne Jones is seeking to build on her already impressive track record by making the finals in the 2008 Beijing games.
Born and raised on St. Croix, the 26-year-old Jones went to both Central High School and Educational Complex, where she ran for both schools' track teams. Upon her graduation from Complex, she was nominated as Most Valuable Player and was Avis Athlete of the year from 1999 to 2000.
"My brother, he ran track and I thought it was interesting and I wanted to try it out," Jones said. "I started at school, doing different activities, and just kept doing it, and all in all had a successful track career in high school."
Jones' accomplishments kept piling up on the collegiate level. At Barton Community College, in Great Bend, Kan., she was a member of the 2000-2001 National Junior Conference, where she placed third in the NJC Championships 400-meter race. While earning her associate's degree in sociology, Jones also received a gold medal as a member of the 4×4 Relay Championship Team.
After transferring to the Division I University of Oklahoma, Jones became a six-time All American Track and Field record holder in four different events — the 60-meter indoor, 100-meter outdoor, 200-meter outdoor and 200-meter indoor. She was selected in 2004 as the most valuable player for the university's track team, and was chosen as a flag bearer in the 2004 Olympics. Jones also earned her bachelor's degree in sociology.
"My first international meet was right after college, at the Athens Olympics," Jones said. "I ran the 100-meter and 200-meter races, and made it to the semi-finals in both events. I think that's pretty good, considering it was my first really huge competition.
"Every athlete's dream is to go to the Olympics. Being there, I was just ecstatic, and I went out there to have fun and do the best I could in my events."
This time around, Jones is more focused than ever, relying on the past four years of training and experience to propel her to what she says is her goal — the finals. Jones could have two chances to medal in Beijing — first in the 100-meter and then in the 200-meter race.
She qualified for the 100-meter competition in late May in Brazil, where she posted a time of 11.24. Running in Poland early last month, Jones posted a time of 22.62, which qualified her for the 200-meter event.
"It's more exciting this time, I'm more into accomplishing what I've been training for over the past four years," Jones said. "I've improved so much within that timeframe, I just know I could be a finalist. The 200-meter is my first event, so I'm really going to focus on that. I haven't decided yet whether I'm also going to be running the 100-meter, or if I'll just be running in the first race."
Jones is currently ranked 22nd in the world in the 100-meter and 19th in the world in the 200, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations.
In preparation for the Olympics, Jones said she has been lying low and recuperating after recently competing for a month in Europe.
"I'm just getting in my treatment, and just thinking about what I have to do to be a better contender or finalist," she said. "I'm familiar with my competitors, but in track, I just focus on myself and go there thinking about what I have to do.
"In terms of strategy, once I hit the track, I don't wait for anyone. I just get going and accomplish what I've been trained to do."
Jones leaves for Beijing on Aug. 9.
"You just have to keep doing what you love to do, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it," she said. "You just go for it. And I’m proud to be representing the Virgin Islands, and I would really like to thank everyone for all their support."
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