Westfield's Nichole Jones supercharges local road running circuit

It is often no surprise to see some of the top high school stars out in force during the time between the end of cross country and the start of track and field seasons. Lining up not too far from Sean Wade at the start of the Rockets Run 5K on Jan. 2 was The Woodlands cross country phemon Ben Schultz, who finished 4th at state in the UIL and then later competed in the Foot Locker National Cross Country championships.

One young lady who will continue to be heard from is Spring Westfield sophomore Nichole Jones, who finished 7th at the UIL state cross country meet in November. Since late November, she's been tearing up the local road running circuit in preparation for track season.

Nov. 27 - 18:25 (all-time female course record) - Run The Woodlands 5K #118.
Dec. 11 - 18:35 (first overall female finisher) - Run The Woodlands 5K #119.
Jan. 8 - 18:25 (first overall female finisher) - Run The Woodlands 5K #121.
Jan. 16 - 1:22:11 (15th overall female finisher) - Aramco Houston Half Marathon.
Jan. 29 - 18:25 (first overall female finisher, 6th overall) - Texas Med 5K.
Feb. 5 - 17:47 (second overall female finisher) - Kingwood Bridge Fest 5K.

At the Aramco Half Marathon, she finished right behind former St. Agnes/UT star Maureen Sweeney and Austin-based Carmen Ayala-Troncosco and was 17 minutes ahead of anyone else 15 and under!

At the Texas Med 5K, the closest female was veteran runner, Heide Mairs, with a time of 19:56.

And this Saturday at the Bridge Fest 5K, she was the 2nd (to Desiree Skinner) overall female finisher with a time of 17:47 -- but most importantly, a second ahead of Kingwood's Brenna Williamson (who was 12th at the state meet).

Also left in the wake were Kingwood cross country stars Danielle Selner (17:55), Megan Munoz (18:25) and Elizabeth Alexander (18:52), who finished 8th, 5th and 13th to pace Kingwood to a state crown. Kingwood's Lauren Bonds was 5th in that age group with a 19:20 time while Kristen Hanselka was 2nd in the 13-14 age group with a 19:36 time.

I had a chance to visit with her, her brothers (Nathaniel and Jonathan .. speed burners in their own right) and mom after the Bridge Fest 5K was over (as I had seen them at the Run The Woodlands' races) and was genuinely impressed.

They're all very polite, pleasant and seemingly not caught up in the trappings of their successes.

And soon we'll all have to be keeping up with the Joneses, figuratively and literally!