Los Banos senior hurdler stays motivated, despite season being derailed by pandemic
Senior Spotlight is a series of stories by the Merced Sun-Star highlighting the stories of high school senior athletes from the spring season who had their seasons cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Los Banos High senior Brayden Jones had never worked harder toward a goal. The Tigers hurdler had his sights set on making it to the CIF State Championships this season.
Jones was trying to do everything he could to make it happen.
After just missing the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters finals last year in the 110-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles, Jones worked hard all summer.
Jones made his own hurdles out of PVC pipes at home so he could practice. He would sneak into the school’s track to get workouts in. He would also search YouTube looking for videos that would help him perfect his form.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Los Banos track coach Joe Luna. “As soon as last season ended, right away he wanted to keep training. He would go to the track, he would hit the weights, he trained all summer. During the school year, he kept at at, I know how hard this kid worked.”
That’s why when the schools were closed down and the spring sports season was canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it hit Jones hard.
“I felt like I was robbed,” Jones said. “I was robbed of my senior year. I was robbed of my last memories with my team. I probably won’t see some of those people ever again. I expected a lot from me this year. I wanted to show what I can do and make it to state.”
Jones was a Western Athletic Conference champion as a junior last year in the 110 and 300 hurdles. He set personal records in both events at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV/V Championships with times of 15.15 seconds and 40.55 seconds, respectively.
The Tigers competed in only in one event this year before the season was canceled and Jones set a meet record at Patterson’s Tiger Rustbuster Track Invitational. Jones’ time of 15.55 seconds matched the same time he posted at last year’s Sac-Joaquin Section Masters trials, showing he was already at the level he ended last year.
“In my mind, I was going to have a great season,” Jones said. “I was running in the 15s right away. I think my chances were high for making it to state. When I say I’m going to do do something, usually I’m able to do it.”
Jones played different sports growing up, but didn’t give track a try until his sophomore year at Los Banos.
Luna said he was a natural.
“He’s a stud athlete,” said Luna, who has been the Tigers head coach for four seasons. “He’s the type of athlete I can put anywhere and he’ll do well. He’s a really good sprinter. He tried out hurdles and he was able to do it right away. He was off to great start this year. I feel for the kid. On a selfish note, I wanted to see what he could do. It could have been my first trip to the state meet as a coach.”
Jones says he took to track right away.
“Track is so fun. I loved it right away,” Jones said. “I love racing. I didn’t know I would, but I love racing. Even watching my videos, it gets my heart racing.”
Jones says his running days aren’t over. He plans to compete at Modesto Junior College next year.
“The biggest downfall of the season being canceled is I was not able to show colleges what I can really do now,” he said. “I got robbed of my last season so I have to do it again next year at (Modesto Junior College).”
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
