Rarely is an athlete so successful that a period in a team's history can be defined by his name alone - think the "Michael Jordan Era" of the Chicago Bulls. But for Tufts men's track and field, junior Fred Jones is defining the program through his national success, consistency and sheer talent.
Since donning the brown and blue in 2003, Jones has leapt his way into the record books as the winningest jumper in Tufts track and field history. His six All-American titles are the most for any Tufts jumper, and he is quickly approaching the record for the most All-American titles ever held by a University male track and field athlete (James Lavellee earned eight titles in the early 1990s. He is the Jumbos' record holder in indoor long and triple jumps and the outdoor triple jump.)
And while his performances at last weekend's NCAA National Championships didn't display the same across-the-board dominance that has characterized much of his career, Jones took fourth in the long jump to earn his second consecutive long jump All-American award.
"I'm satisfied with my performance," Jones said. "I believe I could have done a bit better and jumped a little farther, but I'm happy with my fourth place finish."
The triple jump, typically Jones' forte, was not as fruitful, as Jones failed to qualify for the finals. However, he was fighting something of an uphill battle.
"I've been suffering from a knee injury all season, and I've just muscled through it," Jones said. "Part of it is the environment too. A lot of jumpers didn't jump their distances. I was disappointed with my performance, and I just couldn't really get things going."
The tense atmosphere of the meet makes Nationals particularly difficult for the athletes.
"The environment of Nationals isn't as inclusive as other meets," Jones said. "It's a lot more formal and structured. At other meets, it's looser, less strict, and you are surrounded by more teammates."
Despite this, coach Ethan Barron, who has worked with Jones since his freshman season, was impressed with the results.
"From an outcome-dependent standpoint, I don't believe Fred was completely satisfied," Barron said. "But from a performance standpoint, in the situation that he found himself, he conducted himself like the All-American that he is."
Jones' approach to training and competition plays a key role in his unprecedented success.
"Fred comes from a very individualized standpoint," Barron said. "As a freshman, he came in with a work ethic and dedication usually reserved for seniors. He realized from the get-go that his time to establish a legacy was finite."
As a highly decorated, dominant athlete, Jones is a well respected leader and a source of cohesion for the team.
"Fred is one of the most versatile leaders I've ever had the opportunity to work with," Barron said. "He can lead from the front, and he can lead from the back as a motivator. He can be a silent leader as well as a very vocal leader. He is not outspoken at meets and lets his jumps and performance speak loudly, but he's an excellent motivator."
Jones still has one year to add to the legacy he has created for the program and set the bar a little higher and the mark a little further.
