Former OBU All-American Wins Long Jump Gold At IAAF World Junior Championships

Former Oklahoma Baptist All-American Akela Jones made history by becoming the first athlete from Barbados to medal at the IAAF World Junior Championships as she won the long jump final with a leap of 6.34 meters in Oregon Wednesday.

Sixth at the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships, Jones took the lead in the opening round with 6.32 meters and improved to 6.34 meters into a strong -2.7m/s head wind.

It proved to be enough for gold although the conditions contributed to it being the shortest winning distance in the history of the World Junior Championships.

Jones, who transferred to Kansas State after the 2013-14 season, took home the Most Valuable Athlete honors from last spring’s NAIA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships. She won the high jump at 5-10, the long jump at 21-5 and the 100 hurdles at 13.35. She also placed second in the triple jump at 40-11 and anchored the runner-up 4x100 relay.