Last season Ashley Jones reached the NCAA Track & Field Championships as part of Chico State's top women's 4x100 relay team. This year the Wildcats' spectacular sprinter is making a serious bid to return to nationals, with an eye on competing not only in relays but as a solo act. The speedster from Salinas had her talents on full display Saturday at the Chico Twilight Meet, winning both the 100- and 200-meter dash and helping the 'Cats take top honors in the 4x100. Her multiple successes have made Jones the latest Wildcat of the Week.
Jones started the day by logging the top time (12.09 seconds) in the preliminaries of the 100-meter dash, then later that afternoon finished first in the finals, stopping the clock at 12.03 seconds. That effort not only tied her personal record but is the top 100 time posted by any California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) sprinter this season.
Jones – who also holds the CCAA's fastest time this year in the 200-meter dash – was also first to cross the finish line in the Chico Twilight Meet's 200, stopping the clock at 24.99 seconds.
Jones found herself in the winner's circle for a third time Saturday, combining with Wildcat teammates Taylor Walker-Wimberly, Aja Erskine and Ruby Davis to finish first in the 4x100 relays with a time of 47.7 seconds.
Jones will be among the Wildcats traveling to Hayward this weekend to compete in the Cal State East Bay Legacy Meet, taking place at Chabot College.
