Blake Jones, a sophomore runner on the University of Illinois Springfield men’s track and field team, placed third in the 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on Saturday.
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 a national meet.
According to a UIS press release, Jones started the race on the outside but 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.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on May 29, 2021.