Colorado University Athletics
Top Performances Countdown: Jones Runs Two Top-10 Times In NCAA History
April 27, 2020 | Track and Field
Dani Jones had perhaps the most dominant two-week stretch in CU athletics history in early February. First she took down a 42-year old school record in the 800 meters. One week later, she ran the sixth-fastest mile in NCAA history. Six days after her mile mark, Jones ran the ninth-fastest 5k all time in NCAA.
Needless to say, a school record and two top-10 times in the history of the NCAA raises some eyebrows. This earns Jones the No. 1 spot in our countdown of top performances of 2019-20.
She started things off on Jan. 31 when she anchored the distance medley relay team with the second-fastest time in school history at 11:11.05. But she was just getting warmed up.
Jones, who has undoubtedly been one of the best runners in CU history, shockingly had yet to break a school record. She finally got one on Feb. 1 and it had been the longest-standing women's indoor track record. Jones bested Mary Decker's previous 800 meters mark of 2:05.29 set in 1978 by nearly a second, finishing the race in 2:04.38 at the CU Invitational in the Indoor Practice Facility.
One week later, it was off to the 113th Millrose Games in New York. Competing in the New York Road Runners Wanamaker Women's Mile, Jones finished seventh in 4:27.88. In that race, Elle Purrier set the American record by winning in 4:16.85, just to give context on the caliber of athlete she was competing against. Jones's time was the fastest by a collegiate athlete in the prestigious race since 1988. Her time sits sixth all-time in NCAA history and CU's Jenny (Barringer) Simpson holds the national collegiate record of 4:25.91, set in 2009.
Jones's two-week show wrapped up on Feb. 14 with the 5,000 meters in Boston. Her time of 15:17.11 is the ninth-fastest in NCAA history. In that race, she finished second behind Simpson, who won in 14:58.67, competing professionally for New Balance.
For the 2020 indoor season, that gave Jones the fastest mile, second-fastest 800, and third-fastest 5K in the nation. It came just six days after her top-10 mark in the mile.
"Tonight was a special night," said Jones after her race in Boston. "It was my first indoor 5K, the first 5K I've run for time and my first race with [teammate] Makena [Morley] and Jenny [Simpson] this season. I didn't necessarily run the time I wanted tonight, but I'm happy with the effort I put into tonight and how I've juggled some difficult racing scenarios these past few weeks. I'm also extremely happy to be qualified in three events. The coaches have given me a lot of great opportunities to run well and I'm especially grateful for them and Makena and Jenny's company through it all."
Jones is the only female athlete in NCAA history with a top-10 NCAA mark on a 200-meter track in both the mile and 5,000. Arizona's Lawi Lalang is the only representative on the men's side in both events.
Jones was geared up to compete in the 800 and the mile at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in March before the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. She went on to be named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year.
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Needless to say, a school record and two top-10 times in the history of the NCAA raises some eyebrows. This earns Jones the No. 1 spot in our countdown of top performances of 2019-20.
She started things off on Jan. 31 when she anchored the distance medley relay team with the second-fastest time in school history at 11:11.05. But she was just getting warmed up.
Jones, who has undoubtedly been one of the best runners in CU history, shockingly had yet to break a school record. She finally got one on Feb. 1 and it had been the longest-standing women's indoor track record. Jones bested Mary Decker's previous 800 meters mark of 2:05.29 set in 1978 by nearly a second, finishing the race in 2:04.38 at the CU Invitational in the Indoor Practice Facility.
One week later, it was off to the 113th Millrose Games in New York. Competing in the New York Road Runners Wanamaker Women's Mile, Jones finished seventh in 4:27.88. In that race, Elle Purrier set the American record by winning in 4:16.85, just to give context on the caliber of athlete she was competing against. Jones's time was the fastest by a collegiate athlete in the prestigious race since 1988. Her time sits sixth all-time in NCAA history and CU's Jenny (Barringer) Simpson holds the national collegiate record of 4:25.91, set in 2009.
Jones's two-week show wrapped up on Feb. 14 with the 5,000 meters in Boston. Her time of 15:17.11 is the ninth-fastest in NCAA history. In that race, she finished second behind Simpson, who won in 14:58.67, competing professionally for New Balance.
For the 2020 indoor season, that gave Jones the fastest mile, second-fastest 800, and third-fastest 5K in the nation. It came just six days after her top-10 mark in the mile.
"Tonight was a special night," said Jones after her race in Boston. "It was my first indoor 5K, the first 5K I've run for time and my first race with [teammate] Makena [Morley] and Jenny [Simpson] this season. I didn't necessarily run the time I wanted tonight, but I'm happy with the effort I put into tonight and how I've juggled some difficult racing scenarios these past few weeks. I'm also extremely happy to be qualified in three events. The coaches have given me a lot of great opportunities to run well and I'm especially grateful for them and Makena and Jenny's company through it all."
Jones is the only female athlete in NCAA history with a top-10 NCAA mark on a 200-meter track in both the mile and 5,000. Arizona's Lawi Lalang is the only representative on the men's side in both events.
Jones was geared up to compete in the 800 and the mile at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in March before the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. She went on to be named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year.
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