Lost shoe? Chargers' Jones keeps steady pace in meet

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 23, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Just call him "One Shoe" Jones.

Midway through Monday's cross country meet, Wayne Country Day's Jason Jones lost one of his shoes in the woods. Comfortable on his home course and aware of every twist and turn, dip and mud holes, Jones continued to run at a comfortable pace.

"It stepped in a deep mud puddle ... hurt while I was running," Jones admitted. "I just had to keep my pace and keep running forward, never think about anybody passing me."

WCDS basketball coach David Flowers retrieved Jones' shoe and waited for him to make his second trip through the woods. Jones put on his shoe, maintained his steady tempo and crossed the finish line first in 21 minutes, 27 seconds.

Not even two minutes later, teammates DJ Waters (22:08) and PJ Hill (22:11) claimed second and third, respectively. The trio gave the Chargers a perfect score of six since N.C. Independent School Athletic Association rules count just the top three runners in cross country meets.

Hunter Johnson placed fourth and helped Freedom earn second overall with 28 points. Greenfield was third with 33 points, followed by Ahoskie Ridgecroft with 37.

"It was real fun, like how it was back in the woods ... had a real cross country feel to it," said Ridgecroft junior Hunter Miller, who eighth in 23:52.

"The mud is really fun to run through and the (small) hills make it more challenging. I conserved until the last bit."

On the girls' side, Freedom Christian's Elizabeth Martin won two-team race in 28:15. Wayne Country Day's Crawford Tanner finished second in 28:15. Tanner had five teammates -- Natalie Bailey (30:36), Elizabeth Bailey (30:56), Ally Jackson (32:24), Allison Bailey (32:53) and Kate Nielson (33:33) claim positions six through 10.

"It felt nice, good and breezy on the little trail," said Tanner, who improved her time from previous meets this season.

"Not a lot of people ran today. It wasn't as crowded and a little more motivating when you only see one person in front of you. You want to run faster.

"I think the more we practice, time keeps coming off. The weather was nicer today than usual and that had a big part of it."

Freedom and WCDS tied with 15 points in the team competition.