Rickards state champion signed to boost Lady Rattlers track team

Courtesy FAMU Sports
Information

FAMU Women’s track coach Darlene Moore didn’t waste time this off-season. The second-year coach is on a mission to restore FAMU’s Women’s Track Team to its once prominent status. Her latest move in this effort is to sign the Rickards Raiders FHSAA state champion hurdler Brittany Jones. Jones is the 2010 FHSAA Class 2A, 300- meter intermediate hurdling champion. She also earned All-Big Bend first team honors this year, after narrowly missing last year and settling for second team status. Jones is quite the versatile athlete, competing in both weightlifting and soccer. Though heavily recruited, Jones’ decision to attend FAMU was based mostly on academics.

“The fact that I could stay close to home and get into FAMU’s School of Business and Industry were the main factors in my choice of FAMU,” Jones said. Jones also desires a graduate degree in sports management. Coach Moore is excited about adding Jones to her roster. Her addition marks the sixth state champion Moore has added to the Lady Rattlers’ track team roster.

“I am very elated to have her choose FAMU as her new home to finish her career,“ Moore said. She added, “I’m excited about her being home, and I know she can bring her winning ways to our team. Bringing in athletes like Brittany is the key to bringing FAMU track back to the premier program it used to be.” Jones is a competitor in the Tallahassee Trailblazers AAU track club. Head coach Calvin Sancho is excited about the opportunity that awaits her at FAMU.

“She is a hard worker,” Sancho said. “She’s been on the (Trailblazers) team for four years, and in all those years, she’s moved up. She seems to have her head on straight and ready for the college level,” he added. Jones will be competing in Tampa this weekend in an AAU meet, where Sancho expects her to continue her winning ways. Her position coach is excited for her as well. Lorenzo Wilson, her hurdles coach with the Trailblazers, has watched Jones grow into a dominant athlete, with no fear of competition.

Jones’ parents were all smiles at the ceremony honoring Brittany’s commitment to FAMU. Rev. Joseph Jones, her father, is the interim Asssistant Vice President of International Education and Development for FAMU. His excitement is more about family than anything else.

“I am ecstatic and proud of Brittany’s accomplishments,” he said. I believe today is the start of a great chapter in Brittany’s life.” Jones said. Brittany’s mother, Stephanie Jones, was virtually lost for words. “I’m extremely happy and blessed for her to have chosen FAMU,” she said. She was happy because of the reputation of FAMU’s School of Business and her daughter’s opportunity to continue competition, while attaining a college degree.

Rickards head track coach Avah Haugabrook says she will miss her star athlete. “Brittany is a dynamic athlete and we’ve talked. I think FAMU is a good fit for her talent. She will have the support of family and friends here,” she added. Jones is ready for the challenge that awaits her as a freshman at FAMU, and in no way is she content with her performance.

“I know I can improve. If you ever stop thinking you can’t improve, then you become complacent,” Jones said. Moore and Sancho both look for Jones to elevate her performance over the next year. “We’re looking for her to win a national championship in AAU competition this summer, Sancho said. Moore, who has won 12 conference championships in her career, feels that Jones is the type of athlete that she needs to score points at track meets. She said, “Brittany is an outstanding athlete, and we are looking forward to continue that excellence in orange and green.”