Stateline Preps: Meet Aaron Jones, cross country runner
Looking closely at the Beloit Turner cross country roster, everything looks in order until you get to the eighth name down on the list.
That name says, “Aaron Jones, 6-2, 205 pounds.”
The first thought is that’s a pretty big kid for cross country, especially considering the next heaviest runner weighs 170 pounds.
But Jones is something of a mystery for cross country.
Jones is best remembered for his exploits on the basketball floor and on the baseball diamond, where he’s one of the better players in the Rock Valley Conference.
So, the question becomes, why are you out for cross country?
“I like cross country a lot,” Jones said. “It’s helped me with basketball.”
Jones said he lost “about 15 pounds” last year in preparation for basketball. All because of cross country.
“It helped me a ton,” Jones said. “There was a big difference in endurance. I felt stronger at the (end of the basketball season).”
While Jones is not regarded as one of Turner’s top five runners, the intrigue is definitely there.
Maybe he’ll throw a block so the rest of his teammates can ease their way past the finish line.
Or, maybe he’ll lose more weight, become all-conference point guard and play shortstop next season.
Those scenarios don’t sound likely, but neither does Jones running cross country.
And that’s happening.
Check back Sunday for the first annual Stateline Preps Football Rankings. The SPF rankings will rank the top five prep football teams in the Stateline regarding their performance on Friday night.
The rankings will usually come out on Friday night, but since Beloit Turner doesn’t open its season till Saturday, I’ve decided to wait until Sunday, so everyone has a fair chanc
e.
