Charles “CJ” Jones could not stop smiling when he began his senior track season Monday.
Jones’ never-ending grin was warranted, as was his delayed start to track practice. He was part of the Cardinal Ritter basketball team that claimed the Class 3 state title with a win over Barstow on Saturday.
“Basketball is the first sport I ever played, and it’s big going out on a W,” said Jones, who scored eight points in the finale and averaged 11.6 on the season. “I cried after the game; that’s how much I wanted it.
“Track is more individual. Basketball is doing it with your brothers, with family. There’s so much more that goes into winning in basketball because you have to rely on other people.”
Jones had some opportunities to continue with both basketball and track at the college level, but he knew his future was on the track. He signed to run at Texas Tech after heavily considering LSU.
Jones enters the season as the Class 3 favorite in the 800-meter run. He is the two-time defending champion. As a sophomore, he ran the nation’s seventh fastest time at 1:49.78, and he set the Class 3 state meet record with a 1:49.96, which left him .07 shy from the overall state mark.
As a junior, Jones did not see more records fall. He had an off season, by his standards, and never broke 1:50.
“I had a strained ligament in my foot that I hurt coming off a dunk in districts, and it didn’t heal till summer,” Jones said. “But I didn’t want to make any excuses. I wasn’t looking forward to track last year. I put too much pressure on myself.
“Every year that I’ve had big things happen were when I was having fun. Last year I was forcing it, and all the stuff got in my head.”
Now Jones said he’s excited to run again. He’s ready to test himself and made an effort to stay in better track shape even while playing basketball. Jones said he entered an indoor meet this winter just to test himself, and while running unattached, he split 49s.
“I’m more in shape than my junior year, and I’m healthy,” Jones said.
Jones got his start in sports because of his dad, Chico Jones, who has been an assistant basketball coach at UMSL for 35 years. Chico played basketball and ran track and Central Methodist University. But it was racing with his cousin that got CJ hooked on track.
“I really used to hate track; (Chico) kind of tricked me into it,” CJ said. “I just wanted to be around my cousin, but I got addicted to winning.”
CJ has thoughts of returning to the 400 as well this year. He finished second in the event as a freshman, and he owns a PR of 47.88 that he posted at the Great Southwest Classic last summer. There will also be the 1,600-meter relay, and then he’s considering a third open event – maybe the 1,600. But before the postseason hits, CJ said he wants to target one meet to try to break the 4:10 mark.
“Every goal I have is lofty,” CJ said. “If it’s not something people can laugh at, it’s not a hard enough goal. I want to go sub 1:47, but I’m not pressing it and not setting any dates for it. When I’m feeling it, I’ll go for it.”
