Andres Jones
Olympic long-distance runner
- Born:
-
1977
- Place of Birth:
- Aberaeron
- School:
- Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron
"It was a bit of a shock to my system as well!" Andres Jones on qualifying for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney
Andres Jones
- Biography:
-
Andres Jones is one of the leading lights of British middle and long-distance running - and a medal prospect for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Born in the seaside town of Aberaeron in Ceredigion, Andres innate running ability was spotted at primary school by a local policeman. PC Kevin Evans, whos also the Welsh National cross country team manager, invited the youngster to join his training group. It was another two years before Andres took up the invitation but it was a decision which changed his life.
He soon became the star of the Aberaeron running club, winning the Inter Counties Cross Country title as a junior and qualifying for the World Junior championships in Sydney in 1996.
The road between Aberaeron and Cardiff was becoming well-travelled and in 1999, Andres left his home town for the Welsh capital where he hoped world-class training facilities and a top coach would raise his performances to international level.
In 2000, after a strong season of training, Andres set himself qualification for the 2002 Commonwealth Games as a goal. He exceeded all expectations and made himself a household name in British athletics.
Record Breaker
Against an international field at the AAAs 10,000 metre race in Watford, Andres was the first Briton to cross the finishing line. He was well inside the Olympic qualifying time and sliced nearly a minute and a quarter off his previous best time. He had achieved what many athletes can only dream of a place in the Olympic Games.
Later that summer, he made his international debut for Great Britain at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, running in the 10,000 meter event. Although he failed to qualify for the final heats, Andres had made his mark and was well set on a career as an international athlete. But then tragedy struck.
Just a fortnight after returning from Australia, he and his girlfriend were involved in an horrific car accident in West Wales. Their car was hit by a Land Rover, and both were knocked unconscious. When he came round, Andres could smell petrol and managed to release his girlfriend just as the flames started.
Both recovered from the accident but Andres then suffered a series of running injuries which ended up putting him on crutches for 12 weeks. His rehabilitation took time and he missed several key events, but he managed to qualify for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and later came third in the British Championships.
As well as running up to 80 miles a week often around the hills of his hometown - Andres keeps fit by swimming and cycling. He has still to achieve his full potential, but the lad from Aberaeron looks set to have another crack at the Olympics in Athens in 2004.
- Moment of Glory:
- Qualifying for the 2000 Olympic Games at the AAA championships in Watford
|
|
|
