National sprinter Soniya Jones left the island on 1st January 2021 for the United States on an athletic scholarship.
Jones, who is the daughter of former national athletes Sonya Williams and Evans ‘Jawaki’ Jones, has represented Antigua and Barbuda at World Juniors Under-20 and Youth Olympics at the age of fifteen years old in 2018.
The All Saints native won silver in the 60m indoors 2019 at the World Prestigious Melrose Indoors Championship. Jones, a graduate of the Princesses Margaret School (PMS) where she graduated with eight CXCs, also has a CARIFTA Games bronze medal.
With personal best times of 11.49 in the 100m and 24.1 in the 200m, Jones is presently the nation’s top female sprinter. Now at Central Arizona College the sprint star has settled in well, both on the track and in class. Still yet to compete because of the coronavirus pandemic, Jones has been involved in intense training since 3rd January adjusting to the cold weather and regular training on campus.
The world has been hit financially by COVID-19 and universities and colleges across the United States are no different which has led to Central Arizona hosting a twenty-one-day fundraising campaign for their athletes. Each athlete, including Jones, is requested to raise a minimum of $500.00 US, to assist with their studies and athletic participation.
Persons can log onto Central Arizona athletic website to make a donation. Jones’ first official race will be in March.
