Kendell Williams Breaks Record, Akela Jones Attempts Incredible Comeback
Kendell Williams Breaks Record, Akela Jones Attempts Incredible Comeback
Akela Jones of Kansas State was a favorite to take down Kendell Williams of Georgia for the NCAA pentathlon. But after falling on her face in the 60m hurdle
After clipping the last hurdle, Jones finished with a time of 10.98. Her PB of 8.00 was a world away, and Williams set a new PB herself, 8.09, to make it even more disappointing for Jones.
VIDEO: @UGATrack's Williams runs into the record books as @KStateTFXC's Jones trips over last hurdle. #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/18wjUSSNcP
— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) March 11, 2016
What they both did next is remarkable. We’ll let the tweets speak for themselves. First, Jones jumped 1.98m, tying the collegiate record set by Destinee Hooker in 2009.
Wow! In the NCAA PENTATHLON, Akela Jones cleared 1.98m in the high jump. Second-best HJ in combined events history.pic.twitter.com/LK6yl9EWI0
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) March 11, 2016
Then it was time for the shot put, where both Jones and Williams put on a show.
HUGE 13.55m throw from Kendell Williams @UGATrack to eliminate the ground Jones made up! Previous career-best was 12.77m!
— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) March 11, 2016
Another gain by Jones on final throw to 13.59m, but she only gains 3pts on Williams overall
— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) March 11, 2016
Williams now 127pt ahead of record pace at 2927
But she didn't stop there!
6.80m national record in the LJ from Akela Jones! She has now won the pentathlon HJ, SP and LJ and is just 20pts off silver!
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) March 11, 2016
VIDEO: She's not done. What a jump by Akela Jones of @KStateTFXC! 6.80m! pic.twitter.com/tg8vjJQIoT
— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) March 11, 2016
Heading into the 800m, Williams was on record pace and executed perfectly. She ran 2:20.47 for 817 points, finishing with a score of 4703, 25 points better than her previous collegiate record.
But one must give it up for Jones, who could have easily called it quits knowing that the win was out of the question. She dropped out of the 800m shortly into the race, likely because scoring was not in the cards.
Jones will compete in the women's high jump tomorrow, while Williams will contest in the long jump this evening and the high jump tomorrow.