Dani Jones could spin multiple records at Arcadia

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Dani Jones and her Desert Vista teammates are looking to take the 48th Arcadia Invitational by storm when the Arizona-based Thunder compete in two of the weekend's biggest races.

Jones is motivated to make sure lightning doesn't strike twice after a pair of narrow setbacks at last year's meet.

Desert Vista is entered in one of Friday's marquee events when it squares off again in the 4 x 1,600-meter relay with defending-champion Great Oak and meet record-holder Saugus.

Following a third-place finish last season in 20:18.92 behind Great Oak (20:12.79) and Saugus (20:18.84), Desert Vista returns sophomores Amanda Davis and Baylee Jones, Dani's younger sister.

Freshman Haley Wolf completes the relay lineup for Desert Vista, which is attempting to become the first Arizona school to win the 4 x 1,600 or 4 x mile at Arcadia since Jessica Tonn and Sarah Fakler led Xavier College Prep to victory in 2010.

"We were really young last year and I was coming back from a small injury, so I think we're 10 times more prepared than we were last year," Dani Jones said. "We had two freshmen and a sophomore and an injured junior last year, so this year going to (cross country) meets like Woodbridge and Pre-Nats and Nike Nationals, this is just like the same old thing we usually do, so everyone is ready to go and we're healthy, so it's going to be fun."

Dani Jones is the national outdoor leader in the mile when after clocking 4:46.17 at the NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 21, giving Desert Vista a formidable anchor to match up against Great Oak's Destiny Collins and Saugus' Sabrina Janes.

But the improvement of Baylee Jones (4:57.53) and Davis (4:57.74) at Chandler has not only given Desert Vista three of the fastest milers in Arizona prep history, but the depth to challenge Xavier College Prep's 2012 state record of 20:14.08.

"The 4 x mile just has this vibe with it that makes it so special. Leading off for my team is really cool being able to do that," Baylee Jones said. "I hadn't run the mile since state last year, so I didn't really know what I could do coming into the 4 x mile at Arcadia, so running that time and getting into a really competitive race like Chandler, it was a really cool race to run. Getting the times out there and knowing that me and Mandy can do something like that to help our team especially, it was a really good thing and I'm glad that we did that."

Wolf has a season-best 5:10 in the 1,600, giving Desert Vista the potential to chase Saugus' 4 x 1,600 meet record of 20:03.73 -- converted from a 20:10.76 in the 4 x mile relay in 2008 -- and possibly eclipse the 20-minute barrier, along with Great Oak.

"When you add our times together, you can see what we could reach and we'll try our best to do that, so we'll see what happens come race day," Davis said. "You have to be prepared and you have to look at what the potential is, but we're not focusing just on the outcome. We know what is possible and we're going shoot for the best obviously, but we're just going to go out there and be the best we can be and hopefully that outcome will come along with it.

"We're lucky to have gotten that experience to get comfortable, so this year we'll be confident in knowing we've done it once before and it went well, so we just have to try to do it again, just a little bit better this time."

The Jones sisters are both entered in the invitational 3,200 on Saturday, but the opportunity to run the 4 x 1,600 together again is significant to Dani in her fourth career trip to Arcadia.

"We wouldn't miss the 4 x mile for the world. I think this kind of victory means 10 times more than an individual victory does," Dani Jones said. "I've looked at a lot of different state records that I'm going for, but (Nike Cross Nationals) proved to me that doing stuff as a team is so much cooler. I've done a lot of things by myself, I've gone to a lot of meets by myself, but the 4 x mile is really unique. It's special to cross the line and have three girls sitting there waiting for you."

Redondo Union clocked 20:01.38 in the 4 x 1,600 in 2012 and Davis Senior ran 20:03.24 last year -- both efforts at the Mt. SAC Relays -- but Suffern (New York) and Roxbury (New Jersey) remain the only two schools to have broken 20 minutes. Suffern set the 4 x mile national record of 19:56.75 in 2006 and Roxbury challenged the mark with a 19:58.07 two weeks later.

Desert Vista, Great Oak and Saugus are all aware of that elite sorority and remain driven to join it. With the potential for the fastest 4 x 1,600 in meet history, that group could grow at Arcadia.

"It's an amazing thing. I obviously think if we all just run our best on that day, I don't think we're necessarily focusing on that record, but I think we all do what we do best and so what we've been training for and preparing for, it will just come with that. To know that I'm a part of that makes it really special," Dani Jones said. "If not a national record, then the Arizona record will be a pretty cool thing too."

The best of both worlds

Dani Jones has an opportunity to become the first athlete since former Simi Valley standout Sarah Baxter in 2011 to win titles in the invitational 3,200 and 4 x 1,600 relay at Arcadia in the same year.

Jones is competing in her first 3,200 since clocking 10:34.16 at last year's Arizona state meet, but the Colorado signee considers it her first time racing at the distance without being slowed by illness or injury.

"I definitely know I'm fit and ready to go. The miles I've run (at New Balance Indoor Nationals and Chandler) have given me confidence to have closing speed for the 3,200," Jones said. "I haven't been fully into my speed work yet. I'm more built off my base from winter, but I'm definitely still prepared with my endurance, so I think I have the best of both worlds going on this weekend."

Jones will compete against Lucy Biles of Herriman (Utah) -- who prevailed over Jones by a 4:50.68 to 4:50.81 margin in last year's Arcadia invitational mile -- along with Emily Hamlin of Boise (Idaho) and California talents Fiona O'Keeffe of Davis Senior, Palisades' Marissa Williams, Saugus' Samantha Ortega, Malibu's Caroline Pietrzyk and Sonoma Academy freshman Rylee Bowen.

"When I was a freshman and I qualified for Arcadia, it was like the biggest deal. I never really thought of even having the chance of winning an event. To come into this race and knowing that it's the 3,200 at Arcadia, which is an even bigger deal than an 800 or a mile and to think I have a chance at doing something that special, that means a lot to me," Jones said. "I think if I put myself in a good spot toward the end of the race, then I think it's going to be a much different story than last year. I think my confidence is going to go a long way this time. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can actually do in a 3,200."

Jones is chasing the 1999 state record of 10:15.93 set by Sara (Gorton) Slattery, who also ran at Colorado University following an exceptional high school career at Mountain Pointe.

"I definitely have that in the back of my head, but just like Chandler, I never have records front and center in terms of my goals," Jones said. "I love thinking about Sara Gorton and her records, just knowing that I'm going to the same school as her next year, it's just a really special thing. It's not just a time that I'm breaking, there is a person behind it. That would definitely be a bonus if that were to happen."