Jones, Hayes W.
Track and Field
b. Aug. 4, 1938, Starkville, MS
At less than six feet tall, Jones was short for a hurdler but his outstanding speed, great start, and nearly perfect technique won him an Olympic gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles in 1964, along with many other championships.
Because a fast start is so important in short hurdles races, Jones was a master of the indoor events; he won fifty-five in a row from March of 1959 until his retirement after the 1964 Olympics. He was the AAU outdoor high hurdles champion in 1958, 1960 and 1961, the indoor champion in 1958 and 1960-62. Representing Eastern Michigan, he won the NCAA title in 1959, when he was also the Pan-American Games champion.
Jones ran on a 4 by 100-meter sprint relay team that set a world record in 1961. After retiring from competition, he became New York City's director of recreation.