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TERRY JONESA Jefferson High junior hopes to qualify for state during a meet today, even without a team.
TAMPA - Hillsborough cross-country champion Evander Jones may qualify for the state tournament again this year - but once again, he'd have to go to the big meet without a team.
That's what happened last year, in Jones' sophomore season at Jefferson High School.
Most of the time, Jefferson doesn't have a full cross-country team. But Jones, a 17-year-old junior, doesn't let that slow him down.
Last week, Jones won the boys individual championship in the 5K cross-country race at the Class 3A, District 4 tournament in Apollo Beach. It was an impressive performance on a hot and humid Thursday; Jones finished a full nine seconds ahead of second-place finisher Ryan Courtoy of Wharton High School.
"I'm very proud of him. He's going to go a long way," said his mother, Joanne Jones.
This afternoon, Jones will run in the regional finals at the Auburndale Speedway in eastern Polk County. If he finishes in the top five, he'll move on to the state tournament Nov. 6.
To earn a team score in cross country, each school must have five runners finish the race. That's rarely the case for Jefferson High.
For Jefferson High's male athletes, football is usually the top sport. If measured by attendance figures, it certainly draws the largest crowds.
Jones plays football too; he's a wide receiver for the Jefferson Dragons' junior varsity team.
But he loves to run, and does it well.
"Last year, my friend Mitchell Burchet ran the 800 in track and I talked him into coming out for cross country," Jones said. "He's doing a pretty good job. Plus a freshman, Rickey Wilson, came out and is doing well. But it's during football season and it's hot and not too many are interested."
After running a couple of miles with his cross-country teammates and then practicing football, Jones goes home and runs 45 minutes to an hour, prior to finishing homework and dinner.
He hopes to place in the top 10 in the state meet this year.
During the spring, he runs distance events for the Jefferson track team, and in the summer he participates in Amateur Athletic Union meets.
Last summer in the AAU state meet, he placed second in the 3,000-meter run and third in the 1,500. He was fifth in the 3,000 in the AAU Nationals.
"It isn't easy to get athletes to come out for the cross-country team at Jefferson," Dragons coach J.L. Wilburn said. "Besides being in the same calendar time for football, it is hot. But Evander doesn't let those things bother him. He even encourages others in school to come out."
Jones has a 3.0 GPA. He plans to take some advanced courses during the next three semesters, with hopes of qualifying for some college academic scholarships. He also hopes to attract some college coaches with his distance-running skills.
For his cross country, he wants to get his time below 16 minutes. He would like to achieve that time cut this season, but at least by the state tournament next year.
"I have my focus on my grades and my running," Jones said.