Patrice Jones 5th at AAU

Patrice Jones of Machesney Park, IL received a 5th place National Medal at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Ypsilanti, MI on July 29th at Eastern Michigan University for the Midget Girls 400m dash with a time of .59.52. Patrice was the only track athlete from the Rock River Valley area to receive a National Medal at the AAU JOs and rank in the top 8 of the country. Patrice put on a competitive race battling for one of the top 8 national positions from heat eight out of 9 (72 athletes in the Midget Girls 400m race). Patrice concludes her Track and Field 2008 summer season with a national ranking of 5th in the country for the Midget Girls 400m. She is also ranked by the National Elite Youth Ranking System as All American for 2008 in the 400m dash. In order to be listed as all American, you must end the year with a verified performance in your event placing you in the top 20 performers for the year nationally for both USATF (USA Track and Field) and AAU. Patrice is also listed on the the National Elite Youth Ranking System Honor Roll for the 200m dash and the Long Jump which she placed 9th overall at the JOs. To make the National Elite Youth Ranking System Honor Roll, you must end the year with a verified performance in your event placing you in the top 100 performers for the year nationally.

DuWyane Patriq Jones, Patrice's younger brother, qualified for the Bantam Boys 200m Semi finals with a time of .27.74 seconds, his best time of the season. Patriq concludes the JOs with a national placement of 12th overall, only the top 8 make the medal stand, but his performance places him on the National Elite Honor Roll as well for the Bantam Boys Division for the 200m dash.

Both kids had a phenomenal season with the support of their Parents DuWayne Jay Jones (Coach Dad) and mother Monique J. Jones (family coordinator) they brought home 5 national medals collectively (USATF Youth Nationals and AAU JOs), Patrice landed 6 regional titles, and Patriq was part of the AAU Region 6b Title winning 4x400 Bantam Boys Relay team that qualified him, along with his 200m dash, to participate in the AAU National Junior Olympics for the first time after three long years of watching his big sister compete. The kids are associated with the Illinois Elite Youth Track Club based out of Matteson, IL, but receive tremendous support from the Harlem District and community. For more information official results please visit www.aauathletics.org and http://www.eliteyouth.com/index.asp for the National Elite youth ranking.