Jones Wins 200 in Track Debut

Marion Jones of Thousand Oaks High, a forward on the girls’ basketball team, wasted little time making the transition to track last week.

Jones won the girls’ 200 meters for the second consecutive year in the National Scholastic Indoor championships in Syracuse, N. Y., on Sunday, three days after Thousand Oaks lost to Lynwood, 58-56, in a semifinal of the state Division I girls’ basketball playoffs.

Jones timed 23.92 seconds in the final after winning her qualifying heat in 24.07 Saturday. Jones also finished first in a 400 heat Saturday, but her time was not fast enough for her to qualify for Sunday’s final.

Thousand Oaks girls’ track Coach Art Green said Jones lost time in the 400 when she was cut off after the runners broke for the inside lane after the first lap on the 200-meter track.

Jones will make her outdoor debut in a triangular meet against Newbury Park and Channel Islands on Thursday at Thousand Oaks.