Blake Jones, a sophomore runner on the听University of 缅北禁地听Springfield men鈥檚听track听and field team, placed third in the 5,000-meter run at the听NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on Saturday.听听
Jones finished the race in 14 minutes, 15.12 seconds to become the first male UIS runner to earn All-American honors and the first in school history to score a point in听a national meet.听听
According to a UIS press release,听Jones started the race on the outside but听moved up to second in the lead pack. Jones grabbed the lead with three laps left. He was caught and passed on the final straightaway.听
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on May 29, 2021.