Rayniah Jones podiums at NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship

Sophomore Rayniah Jones took the bronze in the 60-meter hurdles on Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Jones’ 7.947-second time came 0.004 seconds short of 2nd-place Masai Russell, a junior from Kentucky, and 0.17 seconds short of champion Grace Stark, a sophomore from Florida. Stark’s winning time tied the NCAA record in the event, set back in 2013.

“my first ncaa indoor championship is over and it’s with another podium finish,” Jones said in a Twitter post shortly after her run.

It will be Jones’ second NCAA Championships medal of her collegiate career. to go along with her silver medal from the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100-meter hurdles back in June.

The medal came after the athletes, had to line up for a second time after LSU sophomore Alia Armstrong committed a false start, disqualifying her from the competition.

Jones also competed in the 60-meter dash in Birmingham. However, while her 7.21-second time in her semifinal heat on Friday fell 0.03 seconds short of qualifying for the final, it was a new personal best in the event for Jones.

Shortly after Jones’ 60-meter dash semifinal, fellow sophomore Latasha Smith ran in her 400-meter dash semifinal heat. Her 53.92-second time came up 1.65 seconds short of qualifying for the final. She finished in 14th-place overall.

Since the beginning of the Indoor season, Jones has lowered her 60-meter dash personal best by 0.15 seconds, her 200-meter dash personal best by 0.66 seconds, and her 60-meter hurdles personal best by 0.29 seconds, setting a new school record in the event in the process.

Head coach Dana Boone said she was “super proud” of Jones’ efforts during an “amazing indoor season” in a Twitter post shortly after the 60-meter hurdle final.

Meanwhile, Smith lowered her personal best in the 400-meter dash by 0.84 seconds since the beginning of the indoor season, also setting a new school record in the event in the process.

Both athletes have less than a week before they begin their outdoor season in the Black and Gold Invitational at the UCF Soccer and Track and Field Complex on March 18-19.

“On to outdoor…. Let the fun begin!!!” Boone said.