Salute to Seniors: Rayniah Jones

My most memorable moment was a recent one at NBNO 2019. My teammates and I won the 800 SMR, making us national champions. The feeling of having a gold medal, an All-American crown, a shirt, flowers, and the flag on a national level is one that is unmatched. It was also nice to represent Florida and show the country how fast Florida really is.

My competition over my four years was definitely myself. My mind is a very strong force when it comes to competing, if I'm not in the right mindset then it will be reflected in my race. I started hurdling my sophomore year where I've had many different competitors, all that have pushed to me to do better, but it's not possible if I couldn't believe it myself.

The greatest accomplishment that I have achieved would be becoming state champion twice, even though they were in different events. Becoming a state champion my junior and senior year really taught me many lessons such as patience. You cannot compare your progress to anyone else's, when your hard work pays off, you'll see it. 

Honestly, if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a single thing. I believe everything plays out a certain way for a reason. If I had done any other events then I probably wouldn't have been as successful. I'm grateful that my events are hurdles because when I first began training at Southridge, they were not something I envisioned myself in.

I will miss my teammates the most! I looked forward to practicing with them because they're such positive people with good energy. Traveling with them, all the jokes we made and still make, they're unforgettable, I wouldn't trade them for another group of girls. They're really what makes track my favorite sport (even though it's my only), the friends I make along the way.

No matter what year you're in, always give your best in everything you do. Don't always keep the mindset, "Oh, I have three more years to get better, its fine." Get better now, give your all in practice and your effort will be revealed in your meets. Your coaches, your teammates, college coaches all pay attention to the effort that you put in, and in the end, your effort might be what makes you a better person or recruit from the next.

A LOT! I love my coaches so much, I would not be the athlete that I am without them. They've opened my eyes to so many things and taught me so much. My coaches have made an everlasting impact on me. Coach McCray and Dewitt, gave me the extra motivation to keep pushing myself to be better in hurdles no matter how nervous I was. Coach Gene, regardless of how hard his sprint workouts were, I knew there was a method to his madness. I will always be indebted to them because I know I won't find such eccentric, but lovable coaches anywhere else.

I've committed to the University of Central Florida and I don't know what I plan to major in, but that's all apart of life. #ChargeOn

I want to thank my mom, my sister, and my nephews. Everything I do is because I want to do better for them. They also inspire and push me to be the best I can. They uplift me in the moments when I need it most.

Remember no matter how anxious you are, like Coach McCray says, "Let's go out there and have fun." It helps to end it with a high five too.