July 14, 2000

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Vanessa Jones (Olney, Md.,/Sherwood), a rising senior at the University of Maryland, advanced to the finals of the high jump as competition began at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Jones was one of 13 competitors to advance to the finals after achieving the qualifying jump of 5-10 3/4. Jones will continue in her quest to make the U.S. Olympic team here on Sunday in the finals of the event.

Jones competed in the NCAA track and field championships meet this past June as she enjoyed her finest season as a collegian. She established the outdoor school record of 6-0 1/2 at the FSU Seminole Twilight Meet and finished third in the ACC Indoor Championships with a jump of 5-10. She won the ACC championship during the outdoor season to become the Terps' first ACC outdoor high jump champion since Monica Kuhn in 1986.