Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Trevor Jones

Tony Altobelli

So many events, so little time.

Newport Harbor High track and field standout Trevor Jones must go through

a bunch of shoes training for his various events.

Known primarily for his hurdles events, Jones will also compete in the

100-, 200- and 400-meter races as well as the 1,600 relay team for

Newport.

“Being fairly strong in the hurdles events has allowed me to concentrate

on the other events,” Jones said. “I like running in all of them because

I get a little something different out of each race.”

A Sea View League champion in both the 110 high hurdles and the 300

intermediate hurdles as a junior, Jones won the 200 (22.7), 400 (49.8),

high hurdles (15.3) and anchored the victorious 1,600 relay team.

On top of that, Jones also participated in the Pasadena Games and set a

new school record in the intermediate hurdles (37.51) and was third in

the high sticks with a personal-best time of 14.71.

All of this running is for a reason, according to Coach Bim Barry.

The 100 and 200 really helps his speed,” Barry said. “While the 400 and

the relay helps his speed and endurance. The running events take less of

a toll on him than the hurdles.”

Growing up playing soccer, baseball and hockey, Jones didn’t get into

track until the sixth grade.

“I took part in one of those intramural meets and I did pretty well

there,” Jones said. “From that point I spent more time on running and

really started to enjoy it. It’s great because it’s a sport that anyone

can do.”

Barry likes Jones’ attitude when it comes to putting it all on the line.

“He’s as competitive an athlete as I’ve ever had here at Newport,” Barry

said. “He just hates to lose. If he get’s beat, it’s only by someone that

wanted to win more than he did.”

So what is the difference between the running events and hurdling events,

besides the obvious jumping/non-jumping thing?

“In the 200, I’m allowed to just sprint and go like crazy,” Jones said.

“In the intermediate hurdles, I have to slow down properly at each hurdle

and be able to sprint through each hurdle. This year, I’m polishing off

my technique in order to be even better.”

Out of all the events, Jones likes the 200 best, but feels he’s strongest

in the 300 hurdles. “I think my sprinting endurance is stronger than most

people and that helps me to be successful in that event,” Jones said.

So where does Barry feel that Jones will end up in the storied tradition

of Sailors’ track?

“He has the opportunity to finish on top of a lot of events this year,”

Barry said. “The school record in the 200 and 400 is in reach, as well as

the 110 hurdles.”

Not using all of his endurance on the track, the UCLA-bound Jones sports

a 4.25 GPA and tackles an assortment of activities in his spare time,

when there is some.

“Right now, school is taking most of my free time,” Jones said with a

laugh. “When I do have some free time, I enjoy scuba diving. I’ve been

able to scuba in Mexico and the Caribbean, which was unbelievable. I was

a huge tree-climber as a kid, so I’m getting into rock climbing as well.”