He is an education major whose goal is to one day coach and teach math.

No matter how he does the calculations, Jones may prove to be a great addition to the Arizona cross country team.

"I have wanted to come to Arizona since my junior year of high school," Jones said. "I saw them at a meet where they whipped everybody, and I knew that this is where I wanted to be. It's great to be on such a good team."

Of course, seeing the Wildcats dominate a meet was not the only factor in him deciding on Arizona. He did make a visit to Indiana, but was very impressed with head coach Dave Murray and the academics offered at the UA.

Jones, a freshman from Livermore, Calif., has already had his share of success. He won the California state cross country meet in his junior year. Also, Jones was runner-up in the 1,600-meter state finals his senior year. Jones left high school with eight letters from cross country and track and a scholarship to Arizona.

"I was surprised to get offered a scholarship. I am very glad that I signed early," Jones said.

Jones showed his worth at the Wildcats' first meet this season. He was fourth on the team and 10th overall with a time of 25 minutes, 29 seconds at the Jammin' Invitational in Brea, Calif.

"In high school, the 3-mile marker meant something. In college, it is just another mile marker. (Arizona head coach Dave) Murray gave me some good advice, and I just tried to stay with the people that I started with," Jones said.

Adjusting to this new race distance is one of Jones' goals for the 1996 season. In high school, cross country meets are typically 5,000m. At the collegiate level, it is an 8,000m race. In terms of freshman-year goals, Jones would like to stay in the top f ive of this talented squad, improve his times and do his part to get Arizona to the national championships.

As far as his long range goals go, Jones hopes to keep Arizona a top team and always help it score.

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