EUGENE, Ore. – In the end, Stanford junior Alyssa Jones was two centimeters from her first NCAA title.
Jones led the women’s long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships through five rounds on Thursday at Hayward Field, only to be overtaken in the final round by those two centimeters.
Jones placed second at 21-11 ¾ (6.70 meters), keeping alive her streak of top-four long-jump finishes in every NCAA indoor or outdoor championship meet of her collegiate career -- six in all.
"Yeah, I was two centimeters from winning, but it’s not like I didn’t jump well or try my best," Jones said. "I still have another year. It wasn't today, but maybe it'll be tomorrow."
Jones, who still has the high jump on Saturday, competed in two events Thursday, beginning with the 4x100 relay.
The team of Teagan Zwaanstra, Jones, Alaysia Oakes, and Sage Hinton ran the fourth-fastest time in Stanford history – 43.98 – while placing 19th overall. Jones has been part of the five fastest 4x100 relays ever for the Cardinal.
On the first day of women’s competition, Stanford competed in three events. Besides the relay and long jump, Roisin Willis raced in the semifinals of the 800 and won her heat in 2:00.33 to advance to Saturday’s final.
Jones, runner-up in the NCAA outdoor long jump in 2023 and third in 2024, took the lead on her first jump. Her 21-11 3/4 blew past the leading jump of 21-6 ½ (6.57) by Louisville’s Synclair Savage, the Atlantic Coast Conference runner-up to Jones last month.
While a strong jump, it didn’t seem like the distance would stand. In the third round, Baylor’s Alexis Brown came close, reaching 21-9 (6.63).
"I was always a little worried because I knew the girls out there were great jumpers and could pop one off," Jones said.
When the order was reorganized for the final based on the results of the first three rounds, Jones was given the last position. She would have the final jump of the competition.
Finally someone broke through. It was Savage, the fifth-to-last jumper of the final round. A jump of 22-0 ¾ (6.72) put her in front with a lifetime best. Savage dropped to her knees with emotion.
Jones had one final chance. However, her 21-6 (6.55) jump was not quite enough.
Jones was disappointed, but not devastated. She’s worked on putting pressure aside and enjoying the moments. At the end, she threw her hands in the air in disbelief at coming so close for her first NCAA title, but ultimately didn't let the results devastate her. Afterwards, Jones shook hands, and even bumped elbows, with long jump officials and then received her trophy on the podium.
"Honestly, at the end of the day, track should be fun," Jones said. "And that's what I want to keep it at, is fun."
A key for Jones has been her increase in speed. She entered the year with a personal best in the 100 of 11.53. In a few months, she's knocked it down to 11.20.
"I feel way faster going down the runway," she said. "I just need to take that speed and add the timing, because I definitely feel faster -- I feel like I'm flying. I just need to add that timing and improve the mechanics."
In other words, her technique needs to catch up to her increased speed.
In the 800, Willis led wire to wire in her semifinal, needing to finish among the top two to earn an automatic place in the final. She came to the bell with a conservative 400 split of 59.17. She maintained the lead on the backstretch and found another gear over the final 200 to pull away from what had been a tightly-bunched field. Her final lap was 1:01.16.
The 800 field will be a strong one, with three past NCAA champions – Willis, LSU’s Michaela Rose, and North Carolina’s Makayla Paige – in the field. Rose (1:58.12), BYU’s Meghan Hunter (1:58.95), and North Florida’s Smilla Kolbe (1:59.02) – all in the finals field – rank Nos. 2-4 in collegiate outdoor history. Rose’s 1:58.95 in the first semifinal was an NCAA Championships record.
The men’s meet concludes Friday and Stanford has one athlete competing – freshman triple jumper Xavier Drumgoole. He will looking to gather the first points for the Stanford men of the meet.
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
At Hayward Field
Thursday’s Stanford results
Women
800 – Semifinals: 5, Roisin Willis (Stanford) 2:00.33. Willis advances to final.
4x100 relay – Semifinals: 19, Stanford (Teagan Zwaanstra, Alyssa Jones, Alaysia Oakes, Sage Hinton) 43.98 (No. 4 Stanford AT).
Long jump – Final: 1, Synclair Savage (Louisville) 22-0 ¾ (6.72); 2, Alyssa Jones (Stanford) 21-11 ¾ (6.70).
Stanford’s NCAA Schedule
Friday
5:10 p.m.: Men’s triple jump final – Xavier Drumgoole.
Saturday
5:30 p.m.: Women’s high jump final – Alyssa Jones.
7:14 p.m.: Women’s 800 final – Roisin Willis.
7:55 p.m.: Women’s 5,000 final – Zofia Dudek, Sophia Kennedy.